Shloka 39

Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy

Devanagari script

भवन प्रविश त्वं मे यथाकामं द्विजोत्तम । सत्कृतः कृतकार्यश्व भवान्‌ यास्यत्यविघ्नतः:,द्विजश्रेष्ठ] आप इच्छानुसार मेरे भवनमें प्रवेश कीजिये और यहाँका सत्कार ग्रहण करके कृतकृत्य हो यहाँसे निर्विघ्न यात्रा कीजियेगा

Transliteration

bhavana praviśa tvaṃ me yathākāmaṃ dvijottama | satkṛtaḥ kṛtakāryaś ca bhavān yāsyaty avighnataḥ ||

Translation

“O best of brāhmaṇas, enter my dwelling as you please. Accept the hospitality offered here; having accomplished your purpose, you shall depart from here without any hindrance.”

Word by Word

• भवनम्: house, dwelling
• भवनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रविश: enter
• प्रविश: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• मे: my, of me
• मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• यथाकामम्: as you wish, at will
• यथाकामम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + काम
• Form: true

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of the twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विजोत्तम: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सत्कृतः: honored, well-received
• सत्कृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् + कृत (√कृ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृतकार्यः: having accomplished the purpose
• कृतकार्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + कार्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: true

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यास्यति: will go, will depart
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (√या)
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Third, Singular

• अविघ्नतः: without obstacle, unhindered
• अविघ्नतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ + विघ्न + तस्
• Form: true

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• a Brahmin guest (dvijottama/dvijaśreṣṭha)
• Bhishma's dwelling (bhavanam)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed as atithi-satkara—welcoming a worthy guest with respect, ensuring their needs are met, and enabling them to proceed safely and unhindered after their purpose is fulfilled.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma addresses a brāhmaṇa guest, inviting him to enter his residence freely, receive due honour, complete his intended business, and then depart without any obstacle.