Shloka 13
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
भृत्यातिथिषु यो भुंक्ते भुक्तवत्सु नर: सदा | अमृतं केवल भुंक्ते इति विद्धि युधिछ्चिर
bhṛtyātithiṣu yo bhuṅkte bhuktavatsu naraḥ sadā | amṛtaṃ kevalaṃ bhuṅkte iti viddhi yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Hỡi Yudhiṣṭhira, hãy biết điều này: người nào luôn chỉ ăn sau khi những kẻ nương tựa mình và các vị khách đã ăn xong, thì nên được xem như kẻ chỉ thọ hưởng cam lộ.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should practice dharma in daily life by feeding dependents and guests first; such selfless, disciplined hospitality is praised as spiritually elevating—equivalent to consuming “nectar.”
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhīṣma advises King Yudhiṣṭhira on household ethics, highlighting the merit of serving dependents and honoring guests before oneself.