Shloka 75

Devanagari script

पूजयेदतिथिं नित्यं नमस्येदर्चयोद्द्विजम् / मनोवाक्कर्मभिः शान्तं स्वागतैः स्वगृहं ततः

Transliteration

pūjayedatithiṃ nityaṃ namasyedarcayoddvijam / manovākkarmabhiḥ śāntaṃ svāgataiḥ svagṛhaṃ tataḥ

Translation

One should always honor a guest, and bow to and worship a learned twice-born. With peaceful mind, speech, and deeds, one should then welcome him properly into one’s own home.

Word by Word

• पूजयेत्: should honor/worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अतिथिम्: a guest
• अतिथिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always/daily
• नित्यम्: Adverbial (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• नमस्येत्: should bow to
• नमस्येत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक) + √as (धातु) [denominative: नमस्य-]
• Form: नामधातु (denominative) 'नमस्यति'; विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• द्विजम्: a twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मनः: with mind
• मनः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case) (समासे पूर्वपद), एकवचनार्थे

• वाक्: with speech
• वाक्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (समासे पूर्वपद), एकवचनार्थे

• कर्मभिः: with actions/deeds
• कर्मभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• शान्तम्: peaceful/calm
• शान्तम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (अतिथिम्/द्विजम्)

• स्वागतैः: with words of welcome/hospitality
• स्वागतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāgata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• स्वगृहम्: one's own house
• स्वगृहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य गृहम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adverbial (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Daily honor of guests and reverence to learned dvijas; welcome them with peace in mind, speech, and action.

Vedantic Theme: Tri-karaṇa-śuddhi (purity of thought, word, deed) as the ground for dharmic life and devotional receptivity.

Application: Practice consistent hospitality: greet respectfully, offer water/seat/food as possible, and maintain non-reactive speech and behavior.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: home/guest-reception space (atithi-gṛha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: household-dharma cluster on feeding, honoring dvijas, and daily yajñas (contextual link)

Characters & Entities

• Atithi
• Dvija

FAQs

What is the importance of atithi-sevā (serving guests) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats honoring a guest as a daily dharma: welcoming and serving the atithi with reverence and proper etiquette is presented as a consistent, meritorious practice.

How does this verse relate to the path of the soul described in the Garuda Purana?

While not describing the afterlife directly, it builds the ethical foundation (dharma) emphasized throughout the Purana: purity in mind, speech, and action creates punya (merit) that supports auspicious outcomes beyond death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Receive guests respectfully, speak gently, act helpfully, and maintain inner composure—treating hospitality and honoring the learned as daily spiritual discipline.