Shloka 41

धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्

Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct

Devanagari script

सर्वातिथ्यं त्रिवर्गस्य कुर्वाण: सुमना: सदा । शूद्राणां चान्नकामानां नित्यं सिद्धमिति ब्रुवन्‌,क्षत्रिय सदा प्रसन्नतापूर्वक सबका आतिथ्य-सत्कार करते हुए धर्म, अर्थ और कामका सेवन करें। शूद्र भी यदि अन्नकी इच्छा रखकर उसके लिये प्रार्थना करे तो क्षत्रिय उनके लिये सदा यही उत्तर दे कि तुम्हारे लिये भोजन तैयार है, चलो कर लो

Transliteration

sarvātithyaṁ trivargasya kurvāṇaḥ sumanāḥ sadā | śūdrāṇāṁ cānna-kāmānāṁ nityaṁ siddham iti bruvan ||

Translation

Mahādeva sprach: „Ein Kṣatriya soll, stets heiteren Sinnes, unablässig allgemeine Gastfreundschaft üben und dabei in rechtem Maß die drei Lebensziele—dharma, artha und kāma—verfolgen. Und wenn Śūdras, die Speise begehren, kommen und darum bitten, soll er immer antworten: ‚Für euch ist es bereit (zubereitet)‘—und sie ohne Zögern zum Essen einladen.“

Word by Word

• सर्वातिथ्यम्: hospitality to all (guests)
• सर्वातिथ्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वातिथ्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिवर्गस्य: of the three aims (dharma-artha-kāma)
• त्रिवर्गस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिवर्ग
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• कुर्वाणः: doing, performing
• कुर्वाणः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)

• सुमनाः: good-minded, cheerful
• सुमनाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमनस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• शूद्राणाम्: of/for the Śūdras
• शूद्राणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अन्नकामानाम्: of those desiring food
• अन्नकामानाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्नकाम
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• नित्यम्: always, regularly
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• सिद्धम्: ready, prepared
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• ब्रुवन्: saying
• ब्रुवन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Mahēśvara (Mahādeva/Śiva)
• kṣatriya
• śūdra
• anna (food)
• trivarga (dharma-artha-kāma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A kṣatriya’s righteous conduct includes universal hospitality and prompt generosity—especially feeding those who ask for food—while pursuing the three aims of life (dharma, artha, kāma) in a disciplined, ethical way.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mahādeva is instructing on kṣatriya-dharma: the ruler/warrior should maintain a welcoming household and respond to requests for food—particularly from śūdras seeking sustenance—by assuring them that food is ready and inviting them to eat.