Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 14

Pūru-vaṁśa, Duṣmanta–Śakuntalā, and the Rise of Mahārāja Bharata

Devanagari script

आस्यतां ह्यरविन्दाक्ष गृह्यतामर्हणं च न: । भुज्यतां सन्ति नीवारा उष्यतां यदि रोचते ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

āsyatāṁ hy aravindākṣa gṛhyatām arhaṇaṁ ca naḥ bhujyatāṁ santi nīvārā uṣyatāṁ yadi rocate

Translation

হে পদ্মনয়ন রাজা, অনুগ্রহ করে বসুন এবং আমাদের সামর্থ্য অনুযায়ী আতিথ্য গ্রহণ করুন। এখানে নীবারা ধান আছে, তা গ্রহণ করুন; আর ইচ্ছা হলে নির্ভয়ে এখানে অবস্থান করুন।

Synonyms

• āsyatām: let (him) sit
• āsyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ās (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; polite imperative ‘let (him) sit’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta; emphasis (निपात)

• aravinda-akṣa: O lotus-eyed one
• aravinda-akṣa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aravinda (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi ‘aravinda-ākṣaḥ’ = one whose eyes are like lotuses

• gṛhyatām: let (it) be accepted
• gṛhyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; passive/impersonal polite ‘let it be accepted’

• arhaṇam: honor/worship (offering)
• arhaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/2nd), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात)

• naḥ: of us/our
• naḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana; enclitic

• bhujyatām: let (them) be eaten
• bhujyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; passive/polite ‘let it be eaten’

• santi: there are
• santi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana

• nīvārāḥ: wild rice grains
• nīvārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana

• uṣyatām: let (him) stay
• uṣyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु) (uṣ- as desiderative/causative stem in passive imperative usage)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; passive/polite ‘let (him) stay/dwell’

• yadi: if
• yadi: Hetu/Śarta (हेतु/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Śarthe avyaya (conditional particle)

• rocate: is pleasing
• rocate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ruc (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

Characters & Entities

• Aravindaksha (lotus-eyed Lord/guest)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about honoring guests (atithi-seva)?

This verse models atithi-seva as dharma: offering a seat, respectful worship, simple food, and a place to stay—seeing the guest with reverence and devotion.

Why does the speaker call the guest 'Aravindaksha' (lotus-eyed)?

The address ‘lotus-eyed’ expresses deep reverence and devotion, treating the guest as supremely worthy of honor—often a sign of recognizing divine presence or saintly greatness.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Welcome guests with sincerity: offer a seat, kind words, and whatever simple food or help you can—making hospitality an act of devotion rather than display.