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Shloka 4

Āśramadharma and the Marks of the Muni

Yayāti–Aṣṭaka Saṃvāda

अतिथीनन्नपानैश्न विशश्व परिपालनै: । आनृशंस्येन शूद्रांश्व दस्यून्‌ संनिग्रहेण च,वे अतिथियोंको अन्न और जल देकर, वैश्योंको उनके धन-वैभवकी रक्षा करके, शूद्रोंको दयाभावसे, लुटेरोंको कैद करके तथा सम्पूर्ण प्रजाको धर्मपूर्वक संरक्षणद्वारा प्रसन्न रखते थे। इस प्रकार साक्षात्‌ दूसरे इन्द्रके समान राजा ययातिने समस्त प्रजाका पालन किया

atithīn annapānaiś ca viśeṣa-paripālanaiḥ | ānṛśaṃsyena śūdrāṃś ca dasyūn saṃnigraheṇa ca ||

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Er hielt das Volk zufrieden, indem er recht handelte — er ehrte Gäste mit Speise und Trank, schützte den Wohlstand der Vaiśyas, begegnete den Śūdras mit Mitgefühl und zügelte Räuber durch Gefangenschaft und strenge Aufsicht. So bewahrte und erhielt König Yayāti alle seine Untertanen, gleich einem zweiten, sichtbar gewordenen Indra.

अतिथीन्guests
अतिथीन्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअतिथि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अन्नwith food
अन्न:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअन्न
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
पानैःwith drinks (water etc.)
पानैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपान
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
वैश्यान्Vaishyas (traders/householders)
वैश्यान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवैश्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
परिपालनैःby protection/guarding
परिपालनैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपरिपालन
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
आनृशंस्येनby compassion/non-cruelty
आनृशंस्येन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootआनृशंस्य
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
शूद्रान्Shudras
शूद्रान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशूद्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
दस्यून्robbers/bandits
दस्यून्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदस्यु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
संनिग्रहेणby restraint/keeping in check (imprisonment)
संनिग्रहेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसंनिग्रह
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
K
King Yayāti
A
atithi (guests)
V
Vaiśyas
Ś
Śūdras
D
dasyus (robbers/bandits)
I
Indra
P
prajā (subjects)

Educational Q&A

The verse outlines rājadharma: a king sustains social well-being through appropriate care—hospitality to guests, protection of economic producers, compassion toward the vulnerable, and firm restraint of criminals—so that the whole populace remains content under dharma.

Vaiśampāyana describes King Yayāti’s exemplary governance: he provides for guests, protects the prosperity of the Vaiśyas, shows kindness to Śūdras, and suppresses banditry, thereby maintaining order and earning comparison to Indra.