Shloka 36

Adhyaya 29 — Alarka’s Inquiry and Madalasa’s Teaching on Householder Dharma (Gārhasthya), Vaiśvadeva, and Atithi Hospitality

Sanskrit

अग्रं चतुर्गुणं प्राहुर्हन्तकारं द्विजोत्तमाः ।

भोजनं हन्तकारं वा अग्रं भिक्षामथापि वा ॥

Transliteration

agraṃ caturguṇaṃ prāhur hantakāraṃ dvijottamāḥ / bhojanaṃ hantakāraṃ vā agraṃ bhikṣām athāpi vā

Translation

দ্বিজশ্রেষ্ঠরা বলেন, ‘প্রথম অংশ’ চতুর্বিধ এবং সেটিই ‘হন্তকার’। অথবা তারা ভোজনকেই ‘হন্তকার’ বলেন, এবং সেই নামেই প্রথম অংশ বা ভিক্ষাকেও অভিহিত করেন।

Word by Word

• अग्रं: the first portion
• अग्रं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चतुर्गुणम्: fourfold
• चतुर्गुणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्-गुण (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: चतुर् + गुण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (अग्र-विशेषण)

• प्राहुः: they have declared
• प्राहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• हन्तकारम्: (called) ‘hantakāra’
• हन्तकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हन्तकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (विशेष-संज्ञा)

• द्विजोत्तमाः: the best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजोत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: द्विज + उत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भोजनम्: a meal/feeding
• भोजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हन्तकारम्: ‘hantakāra’
• हन्तकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हन्तकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (or)

• अग्रं: the first portion
• अग्रं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/प्रारम्भ-अव्यय (then/now)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ-अव्यय (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (or)

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction voice within the Markandeya Purana’s didactic section

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ritual vocabulary
• Alms and first portion
• Household ritual precision

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is not only intention but also disciplined practice; the verse preserves technical conventions so that giving and offering are done with clarity and consistency.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma-ritual detail; outside pancalakṣaṇa proper.

What is the esoteric significance?

Naming and measuring the ‘first share’ sacralizes the threshold between possession and generosity—turning the act of eating into a controlled rite rather than impulse.