Shloka 12

वसिष्ठ-आतिथ्यं

Vasiṣṭha’s Hospitality to Viśvāmitra and the Summoning of Śabalā/Kāmadhenu

Devanagari script

ततो वसिष्ठो भगवान् कथाऽन्ते रघुनन्दन ।विश्वामित्रमिदं वाक्यमुवाच प्रहसन्निव।।।।

Transliteration

tato vasiṣṭho bhagavān kathānte raghunandana | viśvāmitram idaṃ vākyam uvāca prahasann iva ||

Translation

হে রঘুনন্দন! অতঃপর কথোপকথনের শেষে ভগবান বশিষ্ঠ যেন মৃদু হাসিতে বিশ্বামিত্রকে এই বাক্য বলিলেন।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla (काल; temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb: then/thereafter)

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता; Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भगवान्: venerable
• भगवान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वसिष्ठः)

• कथा-अन्ते: at the end of the conversation
• कथा-अन्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कथायाः अन्ते)

• रघु-नन्दन: O descendant of Raghu
• रघु-नन्दन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन; Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रघु (प्रातिपदिक) + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रघोः नन्दन)

• विश्वामित्रम्: to Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रम्: Karma (कर्म; Object/Addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषणम् (वाक्यम्)

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म; Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• प्रहसन्: smiling
• प्रहसन्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण; manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√हस् (धातु) → प्रहसत् (कृदन्त; शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (while smiling)

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; comparative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (as if)

Context

O Descendent of Raghu! at the end of the conversation, venerable Vasishta, smiling asit were said to Viswamitra

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Viśvāmitra
• Raghunandana (Rāma)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is communicated with gentleness—wise elders counsel and host others with a pleasant, non-hostile demeanor.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration transitions from conversation to Vasiṣṭha’s formal offer, introduced with his smiling composure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vasiṣṭha’s serenity and graciousness in speech.