Shloka 24
शकुनि (हिरण्मय-पक्षी) उपदेशः — Vighasāśin and the Difficulty of Gārhasthya
Devanagari script
दत्त्वातिथिभ्यो देवेभ्य: पितृभ्य: स्वजनाय च । अवशिष्टानि ये<श्रन्ति तानाहुर्विघसाशिन:
Transliteration
dattvātithibhyo devebhyaḥ pitṛbhyaḥ svajanāya ca | avaśiṣṭāni yeśnanti tān āhur vighasāśinaḥ ||
Translation
先施食于宾客、诸天、祖灵及亲族，而后唯食其余者，名为“毗伽娑食者”（vighasāśin）。此颂称扬一种严整的居家伦理：先尽对神明与祖先之责，行待客之道，先顾家人，使自己之分在最后取用，远离私欲。
Word by Word
दत्त्वाhaving given
दत्त्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदा (दाने)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)
अतिथिभ्यःto guests
अतिथिभ्यः:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootअतिथि
FormMasculine, Dative, Plural
देवेभ्यःto the gods
देवेभ्यः:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootदेव
FormMasculine, Dative, Plural
पितृभ्यःto the ancestors (pitṛs)
पितृभ्यः:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
FormMasculine, Dative, Plural
स्वजनायto one’s own people/family
स्वजनाय:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootस्वजन
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
अवशिष्टानिthe remaining (leftover things/food)
अवशिष्टानि:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअवशिष्ट
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
येwho
ये:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
अश्नन्तिeat
अश्नन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootअश् (भक्षणे)
FormPresent (Lat), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
तान्them
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
आहुःthey call / they say
आहुः:
TypeVerb
Rootअह् (ब्रूवणे)
FormPerfect (Lit), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
विघसाशिनःleftover-eaters (those who eat what remains last)
विघसाशिनः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootविघसाशिन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
Speaker
अजुन उवाच
Characters & Entities
A
Atithi (guest)D
Deva (gods)P
Pitṛ (ancestors)S
Svajana (kinsmen/family)V
Vighasāśin (one who eats leftovers)Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Serve and honor guests, gods, ancestors, and family before oneself; eating only what remains symbolizes self-restraint and prioritizing dharma over personal appetite.
The speaker defines the term ‘vighasāśin’ by describing a disciplined household practice: distributing food first to those owed reverence and care, and only then consuming the remainder.