Shloka 46
पात्रलक्षण-परिक्षा (Pātra-Lakṣaṇa Parīkṣā) — Criteria for a Worthy Recipient
Devanagari script
वासयेत गृहे राजन् न तस्मात् परमस्ति वै । राजन! विशुद्ध जातिसे युक्त तथा तीक्ष्ण व्रतका पालन करनेवाले धर्मज्ञ ब्राह्मणको अपने घरमें ठहराना चाहिये। इससे बढ़कर दूसरा कोई पुण्यकर्म नहीं है
Transliteration
vāsayet gṛhe rājan na tasmāt param asti vai |
Translation
Bhishma said: “O King, one should give lodging in one’s own house; truly, there is no merit higher than that.” In ethical context, the verse upholds atithi-sevā—honouring and supporting worthy guests (especially learned, disciplined Brahmins) as a supreme act of dharma and social responsibility.
Word by Word
वासयेत्should cause to dwell / should lodge
वासयेत्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवासय् (णिच्) / वस्
FormVidhi-ling (optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd, singular
गृहेin (one's) house
गृहे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootगृह
Formneuter, locative, singular
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
Formmasculine, vocative, singular
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
तस्मात्than that / from that
तस्मात्:
Apadana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formneuter, ablative, singular
परम्higher / greater
परम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootपर
Formneuter, nominative, singular
अस्तिis / exists
अस्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormLat (present indicative), Parasmaipada, 3rd, singular
वैindeed / surely
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaR
rājan (the king addressed, i.e., Yudhiṣṭhira in context)Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Geographic Context
Sandhi Notes