Shloka 14

Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

ततोअस्या: स्वागतं कृत्वा व्यादिश्य च वरासनम्‌ । पूजितां पादशौचेन वरान्नेनाप्यतर्पयत्‌

Transliteration

tato ’syāḥ svāgataṃ kṛtvā vyādiśya ca varāsanam | pūjitāṃ pādaśaucena varānnenāpy atarpayat ||

Translation

Then, having offered her a respectful welcome and assigning her an excellent seat, the king honored her by washing her feet; and after paying due reverence, he satisfied her with the finest food.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अस्याः: of her
• अस्याः: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• स्वागतम्: welcome (greeting)
• स्वागतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वागत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• व्यादिश्य: having directed/ordered
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आ-दिश्
• Form: Absolutive (ya), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• वरासनम्: excellent seat
• वरासनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरासन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पूजिताम्: honoured, worshipped
• पूजिताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजित
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• पादशौचेन: with washing of the feet
• पादशौचेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादशौच
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वरान्नेन: with excellent food
• वरान्नेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरान्न
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• अतर्पयत्: satisfied, gratified
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (speaker)
• a king (rājā, implied by the Hindi gloss)
• a woman guest (asyāḥ)
• excellent seat (varāsana)
• foot-washing (pādaśauca)
• excellent food (varānna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches the dharmic duty of honoring a guest: welcome them respectfully, offer a proper seat, perform purificatory service such as washing the feet, and provide excellent food—hospitality as an ethical obligation, especially for rulers.

What is happening in the narrative?

A king receives a woman guest. He formally welcomes her, gives her a fine seat, honors her through foot-washing and worshipful respect, and then feeds her with the best food until she is satisfied.