Shloka 9

Jñāna-yoga and Karma-phala: Manu–Bṛhaspati on Akṣara and the Limits of Mantra

Devanagari script

अतिथीनां च सर्वेषां प्रेष्याणां स्वजनस्य च । सामान्य भोजन भृत्यै: पुरुषस्य प्रशस्यते,यज्ञशाला आदि पवित्र स्थान, बैल, देवालय, चौराहा, ब्राह्मण, धर्मात्मा मनुष्य तथा चैत्य (देवसम्बन्धी वृक्ष)--इनको सदा दाहिने करके चले। गृहस्थ पुरुषको घरमें अतिथियों, सेवकों और स्वजनोंके लिये भी एक-सा भोजन बनवाना श्रेष्ठ माना गया है

Transliteration

atithīnāṁ ca sarveṣāṁ preṣyāṇāṁ svajanasya ca | sāmānyaṁ bhojanaṁ bhṛtyaiḥ puruṣasya praśasyate ||

Translation

Bhishma sprach: Für alle Gäste, für die eigenen Diener und ebenso für die Familie wird es als rechte Lebensführung des Hausvaters gepriesen, wenn die Mahlzeit dieselbe ist—geteilt ohne Unterschied. Diese Lehre betont den Haus-Dharma: Gastfreundschaft und gerechtes Verhalten im eigenen Heim sind keine beliebigen Höflichkeiten, sondern ethische Pflichten, die soziale Harmonie und persönliche Rechtschaffenheit tragen.

Word by Word

• {'atithi': 'guest (one who arrives without a fixed appointment

• a recipient of hospitality)', 'sarveṣām': 'of all', 'preṣya': 'servant, attendant, one employed to carry out tasks', 'svajana': 'one’s own people

• family/kinsmen', 'sāmānya': 'common, equal, the same (without special distinction)', 'bhojana': 'food

• act of eating', 'bhṛtya': 'servant/retainer (one maintained by wages/support)', 'puruṣa': 'man

• person (here, the householder as an ethical agent)', 'praśasyate': 'is praised

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• guest (atithi)
• servants/attendants (preṣya, bhṛtya)
• family/kinsmen (svajana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A householder should provide the same meal to guests, servants, and family—practicing hospitality and fairness without partiality. Ethical living is shown through daily acts of equitable care.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on proper household conduct, highlighting how everyday domestic choices—like sharing food equally—embody righteousness.