Shloka 6

Janamejaya’s Appeal for Pacification and Śaunaka’s Counsel on Humility (जनमेजय-शौनक संवादः)

Devanagari script

शरणागतस्य कर्तव्यमातिथ्यं हि प्रयत्नत: । पज्चयज्ञप्रवृत्तेन गृहस्थेन विशेषत:,“यों तो घरपर आये हुए अतिथिका सभीको यत्नपूर्वक आदर-सत्कार करना चाहिये; परंतु पंचयज्ञके अधिकारी गृहस्थका यह प्रधान धर्म है

Transliteration

śaraṇāgatasya kartavyam ātithyaṃ hi prayatnataḥ | pañcayajñapravṛttena gṛhasthena viśeṣataḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: One who has sought refuge must be received with hospitality, and this should be done with deliberate care. For a householder—especially one engaged in the discipline of the five daily sacrifices—honouring the guest is a foremost duty.

Word by Word

शरणागतस्यof one who has sought refuge (a suppliant)

कर्तव्यम्to be done; a duty

आतिथ्यम्hospitality; honoring a guest

हिindeed; for

प्रयत्नतःwith effort; diligently

पञ्चयज्ञप्रवृत्तेनby a (householder) engaged in the five sacrifices

गृहस्थेनby a householder

विशेषतःespecially; in particular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

gṛhastha (householder)

śaraṇāgata (refuge-seeker/guest)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

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 to one who comes seeking refuge is a binding duty, and for householders it is paramount—especially for those observing the five daily sacrificial obligations—because dharma is upheld through protection, respectful reception, and generous care of the guest.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues his ethical teaching, emphasizing the householder’s responsibility to honour and care for a refuge-seeker/guest as a central practice of righteous living.