Shloka 4
Āśramadharma and the Marks of the Muni
Yayāti–Aṣṭaka Saṃvāda
अतिथीनन्नपानैश्न विशश्व परिपालनै: । आनृशंस्येन शूद्रांश्व दस्यून् संनिग्रहेण च,वे अतिथियोंको अन्न और जल देकर, वैश्योंको उनके धन-वैभवकी रक्षा करके, शूद्रोंको दयाभावसे, लुटेरोंको कैद करके तथा सम्पूर्ण प्रजाको धर्मपूर्वक संरक्षणद्वारा प्रसन्न रखते थे। इस प्रकार साक्षात् दूसरे इन्द्रके समान राजा ययातिने समस्त प्रजाका पालन किया
atithīn annapānaiś ca viśeṣa-paripālanaiḥ | ānṛśaṃsyena śūdrāṃś ca dasyūn saṃnigraheṇa ca ||
Vaiśampāyana said: He kept the people content by acting rightly—honouring guests with food and drink, safeguarding the prosperity of the Vaiśyas, treating the Śūdras with compassion, and restraining robbers through confinement and firm control. Thus King Yayāti, like a second Indra in visible form, protected and maintained all his subjects.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse outlines rājadharma: a king sustains social well-being through appropriate care—hospitality to guests, protection of economic producers, compassion toward the vulnerable, and firm restraint of criminals—so that the whole populace remains content under dharma.
Vaiśampāyana describes King Yayāti’s exemplary governance: he provides for guests, protects the prosperity of the Vaiśyas, shows kindness to Śūdras, and suppresses banditry, thereby maintaining order and earning comparison to Indra.