Shloka 493

Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

सक्तुप्रस्थचतुर्भागं गृहाणेमं प्रसीद मे । पतिके ऐसा कहनेपर ब्राह्मणी बोली--'ब्रह्मन! हम दोनोंके धर्म और अर्थ समान हैं

Transliteration

saktuprasthacaturbhāgaṃ gṛhāṇemaṃ prasīda me |

Translation

那俱罗说道：“请收下这四分之一钵量（prastha）的炒大麦粉（sattu）。愿你垂怜于我。”在此段故事的伦理旨趣中，说话者纵使所余甚微，仍以谦恭之心奉献，视待客之道与正行（dharma）为至上。

Word by Word

• सक्तु: of roasted flour (sattu)
• सक्तु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सक्तु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• प्रस्थ: of a prastha-measure
• प्रस्थ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• चतुर्भागम्: a fourth part (quarter share)
• चतुर्भागम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्भाग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गृहाण: take (accept)
• गृहाण: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रसीद: be pleased
• प्रसीद: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मे: of me / towards me
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

Speaker

नकुल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nakula
• saktu (sattu)
• prastha (measure)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in poverty, one should uphold atithi-dharma (duty to a guest) and practice generosity with humility; the moral worth lies in intention and sacrifice, not in the quantity given.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nakula urges acceptance of a small, precisely measured share of sattu, framing it as a sincere offering and requesting goodwill—highlighting a moment where scarce resources are still offered in the name of dharma.