labdhaṁ labdhaṁ bubhukṣataḥ
ihāmutra ca gīyate
O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, descendant of Pāṇḍu! Saṅkṛti had two sons, named Guru and Rantideva. Rantideva is glorified not only in human society but also in the society of the devatās.
|| 9.21.3-5 ||
viyad-vittasya dadato
labdhaṁ labdhaṁ bubhukṣataḥ
niṣkiñcanasya dhīrasya
sakuṭumbasya sīdataḥ
vyatīyur aṣṭa-catvāriṁśad
ahāny apibataḥ kila
ghṛta-pāyasa-saṁyāvaṁ
toyaṁ prātar upasthitam
kṛcchra-prāpta-kuṭumbasya
kṣut-tṛḍbhyāṁ jāta-vepathoḥ
atithir brāhmaṇaḥ kāle
bhoktu-kāmasya cāgamat
Rantideva accepted whatever he got by the arrangement of providence, but when guests came he would give them everything, though he desired to eat. Thus he underwent considerable suffering along with the members of his family. He remained calm though he was without anything. Once, after fasting for forty-eight days without water, in the morning Rantideva, his body trembling because of hunger and thirst, was about to take some water and some food made with milk and ghee, but when he and his family were about to eat, a brāhmaṇa guest arrived.
Rantideva received his wealth (vitta) from the sky, without effort. This means he received whatever came by fate alone. Whatever came by that means he would give others in charity, even though he desired to eat.
|| 9.21.6 ||
tasmai saṁvyabhajat so ’nnam
ādṛtya śraddhayānvitaḥ
hariṁ sarvatra sampaśyan
sa bhuktvā prayayau dvijaḥ
Because Rantideva perceived the presence of the Lord everywhere, he received the guest with faith and respect and gave him a share of the food. The brāhmaṇa guest ate his share and then went away.
|| 9.21.7 ||
athānyo bhokṣyamāṇasya
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