Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 36

Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense

Devanagari script

तमानर्चातिथिं भूप: प्रत्युत्थानासनार्हणै: । ययाचेऽभ्यवहाराय पादमूलमुपागत: ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

tam ānarcātithiṁ bhūpaḥ pratyutthānāsanārhaṇaiḥ yayāce ’bhyavahārāya pāda-mūlam upāgataḥ

Translation

Der König stand auf, um den ungebetenen Gast Durvāsā Muni zu empfangen, bot ihm einen Sitz und die Utensilien der Verehrung an. Dann setzte er sich zu seinen Füßen und bat den großen Weisen demütig, die Speise anzunehmen.

Synonyms

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ānarcā: honored; worshipped
• ānarcā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√narc (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• atithim: the guest
• atithim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhūpaḥ: the king
• bhūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• pratyutthāna-āsana-arhaṇaiḥ: with (acts of) rising to greet, offering a seat, and honoring
• pratyutthāna-āsana-arhaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyutthāna (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक) + arhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative: 'rising, seat, honoring'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter, collective), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• yayāce: requested; asked
• yayāce: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yāc (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• abhyavahārāya: for eating; for a meal
• abhyavahārāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhyavahāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) (also used as action-noun), चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• pāda-mūlam: the foot-base; at (his) feet
• pāda-mūlam: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'at the feet'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• upāgataḥ: having approached
• upāgataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√gam (धातु) (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Ambarīṣa Mahārāja
• Durvāsā Muni

FAQs

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

This verse shows ideal atithi-seva: the king rises, offers a seat, renders respectful service, and humbly invites the guest to take prasāda/food—treating the guest as worthy of worship.

Why did King Ambarisha request Durvasa Muni to eat?

Durvāsā arrived as a revered guest; Ambarīṣa followed dharma by honoring him and inviting him to accept a meal, approaching his feet in humility.

Practical application of atithi-seva and humility in modern life?

Receive guests respectfully, offer hospitality within your means, and keep a humble attitude—especially toward saints, elders, and teachers—seeing service as a form of devotion.