Shloka 14

ययाति–अष्टक–प्रतर्दन संवादः | Yayāti’s Dialogue with Aṣṭaka and Pratardana on Merit, Gifts, and Ethical Restraint

Devanagari script

अतिथीन्‌ पूजयामास वन्येन हविषा विभु: । शिलोज्छवृत्तिमास्थाय शेषान्नकृतभोजन:,वे राजा शिलोज्छवृत्तिका आश्रय ले यज्ञशेष अन्नका भोजन करते थे। भोजनसे पूर्व वनमें उपलब्ध होनेवाले फल, मूल आदि हविष्यके द्वारा अतिथियोंका आदर-सत्कार करते थे

Transliteration

atithīn pūjayāmāsa vanyena haviṣā vibhuḥ | śilocchavṛttim āsthāya śeṣānna-kṛta-bhojanaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The noble one honored his guests with forest-offerings—fruits, roots, and the like. Living by the śiloccha mode of subsistence, he himself ate only what remained after the offerings, taking his meal from the sacrificial remnants. The passage highlights disciplined simplicity and the ethical priority of hospitality over personal consumption.

Word by Word

अतिथीन्guests

पूजयामासhonoured / worshipped

वन्येनwith forest-produced (things)

हविषाwith oblation / sacrificial offering

विभुःthe mighty one (king)

शिलोज्छवृत्तिम्the mode of living by gleaning (picking up grains like stones)

आस्थायhaving adopted / resorted to

शेषान्नकृतभोजनःone whose eating was done (only) of the remaining food (after offerings)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

atithi (guests)

havis (offering/oblation)

forest produce (fruits, roots)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Hospitality and self-discipline are central: one should honor guests first with whatever is honestly available, live simply without hoarding, and accept one’s own share only after serving others—reflecting a yajña-like ethic in daily life.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a virtuous figure who lives by śiloccha (minimal, non-accumulative subsistence). He welcomes guests with forest-produce offered as haviṣ, and he eats afterward, taking only the remaining food.