Shloka 263
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
भुदुक्तेडन्यस्मिन् कदाचित् स ष्े काले द्विजोत्तम: | वे उत्तम व्रतधारी द्विज सदा छठे कालमें अर्थात् तीन-तीन दिनपर ही स्त्री-पुत्र आदिके साथ भोजन किया करते थे। यदि किसी दिन उस समय भोजन न मिला तो दूसरा छठा काल आनेपर ही वे द्विजश्रेष्ठ अन्न ग्रहण करते थे
ṣaṣṭhe kāle kadācit sa dvijottamaḥ | uttama-vrata-dhārī sa dvijaḥ sadā ṣaṣṭhe kāle (tridināntare) strī-putrādibhiḥ sārdhaṁ bhojanaṁ kurvanti sma | yadi kadācit tasmin samaye bhojanaṁ na labheta, tarhi dvitīya-ṣaṣṭha-kāle eva sa dvija-śreṣṭho 'nnam aśnīyāt |
那俱罗说道：“从前有一位卓绝的婆罗门，持守高贵而严峻的誓戒。他有一定的行持：只在‘第六时’进食——也就是每三日一次；而且即便进食，也必与妻子、儿女及所依附之人同食。若在约定之时未得食物，他不因急迫或困乏而提前取食；他宁可等待下一次‘第六时’，届时方才受食。”
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is steadfast self-restraint (niyama) and fidelity to a chosen vow: one should not abandon discipline due to discomfort or uncertainty, and one should practice restraint in a way that also accounts for one’s household responsibilities.
Nakula describes a brahmin renowned for strict observance who eats only once every three days, together with his family. If food is unavailable at the appointed time, he waits until the next cycle rather than breaking his rule.