Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 98
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
पानीयं पायसं सक्तून् दथिसर्पिमि धून्यपि । निरस्य शेषमन्येषां न प्रदेयं तु कस्यचित्,पानी, खीर, सत्तू, दही, घी और मधु--इन सबको छोड़कर अन्य भक्ष्य पदार्थोंका अवशिष्ट भाग दूसरे किसीको नहीं देना चाहिये
pānīyaṃ pāyasaṃ saktūn dadhisarpi-madhūny api | nirasya śeṣam anyeṣāṃ na pradeyaṃ tu kasyacit ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Nước, cháo sữa ngọt (pāyasa), bột rang (sattu), sữa chua, bơ sữa (ghee) và mật ong—những thứ ấy có thể để riêng rồi đem cho. Nhưng phần thừa của các món khác thì không nên đem trao cho bất kỳ ai.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not distribute leftover portions of ordinary foods, as this can violate standards of purity and respect in giving; only certain items (water, payasa, sattu, curd, ghee, honey) are treated as acceptable exceptions in this rule.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on dharma. Here he gives a specific guideline about food-giving etiquette: what may be offered and what should not be offered when it is a remainder (śeṣa).