yadā tu parata āhāraṁ karma-vetanata īhamānaḥ sva-bhrātṛbhir api kedāra-karmaṇi nirūpitas tad api karoti kintu na samaṁ viṣamaṁ nyūnam adhikam iti veda kaṇa-piṇyāka-phalī-karaṇa-kulmāṣa- sthālīpurīṣādīny apy amṛtavad abhyavaharati.

yada-when; tu-but; paratah-from others; aharam-food; karma-vetanatah-in exchange for wages from working; ihamanah-looking for; sva-bhratrbhih api-even by his own stepbrothers; kedara-karmani-in working in the field and adjusting the agricultural work; nirupitah-engaged; tat api-at that time also; karoti-he used to do; kintu-but; na-not; samam-level; visamam-uneven; nyunam-deficient; adhikam-more raised; iti-thus; veda-he knew; kana-broken rice; pinyaka-oil cakes; phali-karana-the chaff of rice; kulmasa-worm-eaten grains; sthali-purisa-adini-burned rice stuck to the pot and so on; api-even; amrta-vat-like nectar; abhyavaharati-used to eat.