Shloka 64

दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः

Devanagari script

अहो ऽस्य तपसो वीर्यम् इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ च सः तस्मात्तथा पूजनीयाः सर्वे ह्यतिथयः सदा

Transliteration

aho 'sya tapaso vīryam ityuktvā prayayau ca saḥ tasmāttathā pūjanīyāḥ sarve hyatithayaḥ sadā

Translation

Saying, “Ah! how mighty is the power born of his tapas,” he departed. Therefore, all guests (atithis) are ever to be honored in that very manner; for in serving the atithi one serves the Lord (Pati), who through dharma tests and uplifts the bound soul (paśu).

Word by Word

• aho: ah!/indeed

• asya: of this (man)

• tapasaḥ: of austerity/tapas

• vīryam: potency, spiritual power

• iti: thus

• uktvā: having said

• prayayau: went forth/departed

• ca: and

• saḥ: he

• tasmāt: therefore

• tathā: in that manner/accordingly

• pūjanīyāḥ: worthy to be worshiped/honored

• sarve: all

• hi: indeed

• atithayaḥ: guests, unannounced visitors

• sadā: always

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana; verse as a concluding injunction drawn from the episode)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It links daily dharma to Shiva-bhakti: honoring the atithi is treated as a form of worship, reinforcing that devotion to Mahadeva is expressed through right conduct and reverence.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva-tattva is implied as the hidden Pati who can be approached through dharma; the atithi becomes a sacred occasion where the paśu’s bonds (pāśa) loosen through humility, service, and purity.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Atithi-pūjā as a dharmic observance allied to Pāśupata discipline: tapas (austerity) generates vīrya, and honoring guests preserves sattva and supports Shiva-oriented sādhanā.