Shloka 11
Ajagara-vrata (The ‘Python’ Discipline): Prahrāda Questions a Wandering Sage
“आज कार्तिककी पूर्णिमा है। आजके दिन सहसों श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मण मेरे यहाँ भोजन करेंगे। उन्हींमें यह भी भोजन कर लेगा, उन्हींके साथ इसे भी धन देना चाहिये। आज पुण्य दिवस है, यह ब्राह्मण अतिथिरूपसे यहाँ आया है और मैंने धन दान करनेका संकल्प कर ही रक््खा है। अब इसके बाद क्या विचार करना है?' ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | adya kārtikī pūrṇimā | adya-dine sahasraśaḥ śreṣṭhā brāhmaṇā mama gṛhe bhojanaṃ kariṣyanti | teṣv eva ayam api bhojanaṃ karotu; teṣāṃ saha asmai api dhanaṃ dātavyam | adya puṇya-divasaḥ; ayaṃ brāhmaṇaḥ atithi-rūpeṇa iha āgataḥ; mayā ca dhana-dāna-saṅkalpaḥ pūrvam eva kṛtaḥ | ataḥ paraṃ kiṃ vicārayitum? || tataḥ sahasraṃ viprāṇāṃ viduṣāṃ samalaṅkṛtaṃ snātānām anusamprāptaṃ sumahat kṣauma-vāsasām ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ngayon ang kabilugan ng buwan sa Kartika. Sa araw na ito, libu-libong mararangal na Brahmin ang kakain sa aking tahanan. Hayaan ding kumain ang taong ito kasama nila; at tulad ng ibibigay sa kanila, bigyan din siya ng yaman. Banal ang araw na ito; dumating dito ang Brahmin na ito bilang panauhin, at matagal ko nang ipinasiya ang magbigay ng handog na kayamanan. Ano pa ang dapat pag-isipan pagkatapos nito?” Pagkaraan, sa oras ng pagkain, dumating ang isang dakilang kapulungan ng isang libong pantas na Brahmin—nakapaligo na, may mga palamuti, at nakasuot ng mariringal na kasuotang linen.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage emphasizes atithi-dharma and dāna: when an auspicious occasion and a prior vow to give are present, one should not hesitate—especially when a Brahmin guest arrives. Ethical action is framed as timely generosity, honoring guests, and fulfilling one’s resolve.
Bhishma declares that it is Kartika full moon and that he will host a large feast for thousands of eminent Brahmins. He insists that an arriving Brahmin guest should be included in the meal and also receive a monetary gift. Immediately after, the narrative describes the arrival of a thousand learned, bathed, ornamented Brahmins in fine garments at mealtime.