Shloka 11
Jatāyu’s Resistance, Sītā’s Traces, Kabandha’s Release, and the Path to Sugrīva (Āraṇyaka-parva 263)
क्षुधितो5स्मि ददस्वान्नं शीघ्रं मम नराधिप,वे मुनि कभी कहते कि 'राजन्! मैं बहुत भूखा हूँ, मुझे शीघ्र भोजन दो” ऐसा कहकर वे स्नान करनेके लिये चले जाते और बहुत देरके बाद लौटते थे। लौटकर वे कह देते--'मैं नहीं खाऊँगा; आज मुझे भूख नहीं है” ऐसा कहकर अदृश्य हो जाते थे
kṣudhito ’smi dadasvānnaṃ śīghraṃ mama narādhipa |
毗舍波耶那说道：“大王啊，我饿了——快赐我食物。”然而那牟尼说罢便如同去沐浴般离去，许久之后才归来，又说道：“我不吃；今日我并不饥饿。”言毕便从视野中消失——他所试的是国王的忍耐、待客之道与对达摩的坚守，而非只为口腹之需。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights atithi-dharma and inner steadiness: a ruler’s righteousness is shown not only by giving, but by maintaining patience, respect, and consistency even when a guest’s behavior seems erratic or testing.
A sage tells the king he is hungry and demands food quickly, then delays by going to bathe, returns much later saying he will not eat, and finally disappears—suggesting a deliberate test of the king’s conduct and resolve.