Shloka 96
भर्ता प्रविष्ट: सहसा तस्या भरतसत्तम | राजन्! वह घरकी मालकिन थी, जो जूँठे बर्तन माँज रही थी। ज्यों ही वह बर्तन साफ करके उधरसे निवृत्त हुई, त्यों ही उसके पतिदेव सहसा घरपर आ गये। भरतश्रेष्ठ! वे भूखसे अत्यन्त पीड़ित थे
bhartā praviṣṭaḥ sahasā tasyā bharatasattama | rājan! vah gharakī mālikin thī, jo jūṁṭhe bartana māṁja rahī thī | jyoṁ hī vah bartana sāpha karake udharase nivṛtta huī, tyoṁ hī usake patideva sahasā gharapara ā gaye | bharataśreṣṭha! ve bhūkhase atyanta pīḍita the
马尔坎德耶说道：“婆罗多族中最卓越者啊，国王啊——她作为家中的主妇，正在洗刷沾污的碗盏。她刚把器皿洗净，离开那项劳作，她的丈夫便忽然回到家中。婆罗多族的佼佼者啊，他正被强烈的饥饿所折磨。”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds gṛhastha-dharma: ordinary domestic work and attentive care for family needs are part of dharma. The husband’s sudden arrival in extreme hunger sets up an ethical moment where timely service, compassion, and responsibility in the household become spiritually meaningful.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a scene: the mistress of the house is scrubbing used dishes; just as she finishes and steps away, her husband unexpectedly comes home, suffering from severe hunger. This prepares the next actions and moral emphasis of the episode.