Shloka 43
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
इति ब्रुवन्ती तां साध्वीं भार्या स द्विजसत्तम: । क्षुधापरिगतां ज्ञात्वा तान् सक्तून् नाभ्यनन्दत
iti bruvantī tāṃ sādhvīṃ bhāryā sa dvijasattamaḥ | kṣudhāparigatāṃ jñātvā tān saktūn nābhyānandat ||
Nghe lời người vợ hiền đức ấy, vị Bà-la-môn tối thượng biết nàng cũng đang đói, nên không vui lòng nhận phần saktu nàng dâng.
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
True dharma includes sensitivity to another’s suffering: when a gift is clearly born of the giver’s deprivation, ethical restraint and compassion may require refusing it, honoring the sacrifice rather than exploiting it.
A virtuous wife speaks and offers saktū (parched meal). The Brahmin, perceiving that she herself is afflicted by hunger, does not welcome or accept the offered food, indicating moral hesitation to benefit from her hardship.