Shloka 9

Devanagari script

वार्षिक संचयं केचित्‌ केचिद्‌ द्वादशवार्षिकम्‌ । कुर्वन्त्यतिथिपूजार्थ यज्ञतन्त्रार्थमेव वा,कोई वर्षभरके लिये और कोई बारह वर्षोंके लिये अन्नका संग्रह करते हैं। उनका यह संग्रह अतिथि-सेवा तथा यज्ञकर्मके लिये होता है

Transliteration

vārṣika-saṃcayaṃ kecit kecid dvādaśa-vārṣikam | kurvanty atithi-pūjārthaṃ yajña-tantrārtham eva vā ||

Translation

Vyāsa said: Some people store provisions for a single year, while others store enough for twelve years. Yet this accumulation is undertaken not for greed, but for righteous purposes—so that guests may be honored and the duties of sacrificial rites (yajña) may be properly carried out.

Word by Word

वार्षिकम्annual (for a year)

सञ्चयम्accumulation, store

केचित्some (people)

केचित्some (others)

द्वादशवार्षिकम्twelve-year (lasting twelve years)

कुर्वन्तिthey do/make

अतिथिपूजार्थम्for the purpose of honoring guests

यज्ञतन्त्रार्थम्for the purpose of the sacrificial procedure/ritual system

एवindeed, only

वाor

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

atithi (guest)

yajña (sacrificial rite)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Accumulation is ethically justified when it serves dharma—supporting hospitality to guests and fulfilling sacrificial/ritual duties—rather than personal hoarding or greed.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Vyāsa explains that some householders store provisions for long periods, and clarifies that such storage can be intended for honoring guests and maintaining yajña-related obligations.