Shloka 14
अन्तर्वन-विद्यारण्योपमा
The Allegory of the Inner Forest of Knowledge
आतिथयं प्रतिगृह्नन्ति तत्र तत्र महर्षय: । अचितेषु प्रलीनेषु तेष्वन्यद् रोचते वनम्
ātithyaṃ pratigṛhṇanti tatra tatra maharṣayaḥ | aciteṣu pralīneṣu teṣv anyad rocata vanaṃ ||
Die großen ṛṣi erscheinen hier und dort, nehmen die dargebrachte Gastfreundschaft an und empfangen die Verehrung. Wenn jene nicht wahrnehmbaren Weisen wieder in die Unsichtbarkeit zurückgesunken sind, erstrahlt der Wald in einer anderen, wunderbaren Gestalt — als offenbare er ein feineres, brahmanartiges Leuchten.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Hospitality to guests—especially to the wise and holy—should be offered without attachment to recognition. When service is rendered selflessly, the sacred dimension of the world becomes perceptible; what seemed ordinary (the forest) reveals a higher radiance.
A Brahmin describes how great seers arrive in various places and accept hospitality. After receiving it, they withdraw or become unperceived, and then the forest appears transformed—shining in a distinct, wondrous way, suggesting their subtle presence and the sanctifying effect of the rite.