Vana Parva 193.28
Rahular Itihasa / M. N. Dutt · Vana Parva Chapter 193 · Verse 28
Sanskrit Original
अपि शाकं पचानस्य सुखं वै मघवन् गृहे। अर्जितं स्वेन वीर्येण नाप्यपाश्रित्य कञ्चन॥ फलशाकमपि श्रेयो भोक्तुं शकृपणं गृहे। परस्य तु गृहे भोक्तुः परिभूतस्य नित्यशः॥ सुमृष्टमपि न श्रेयो विकल्पोऽयमतः सताम्। श्ववत् कोलालपो यस्तु परान्नं भोक्तुमिच्छति॥ धिगस्तु तस्य तद् भुक्तं कृपणस्य दुरात्मनः। यो दत्त्वातिथिभूतेभ्यः पितृभ्यश्च द्विजोत्तमः॥
O Maghavan, even he is happy who cooks only little leaves (for his food). Earned by his own efforts, he who eats even fruits and leaves in his own house deserves to be respected. He, who eats in another's house the food given to him in contempt, even if that food be rich and palatable, does a thing which is hateful. Therefore the wise cry "fie" on the food that a mean wretch like a dog or a Rakshasa eats at another's house. If after feeding the guests and the servants and offering food to the Pitris, an excellent Brahmana.