Shloka 6

Devanagari script

सत्ये तिष्ठ रतो धर्मे हित्वा सर्वमनार्जवम्‌ | देवतातिथिशेषेण मात्रां प्राणस्य संलिह,सत्यपर डटे रहो तथा सब प्रकारकी वक्रता छोड़कर धर्ममें अनुराग करो। देवताओं और अतिथियोंका सत्कार करके जो अन्न बचे, उसीका प्राणरक्षाके लिये आस्वादन करो

Transliteration

satye tiṣṭha rato dharme hitvā sarvam anārjavam | devatātithiśeṣeṇa mātrāṁ prāṇasya saṁliha ||

Translation

Vyāsa said: “Stand firm in truth; delight in dharma, abandoning all crookedness and deceit. After honoring the gods and welcoming guests, partake only of what remains—measuredly—so that life is sustained without greed.”

Word by Word

सत्येin truth

तिष्ठstand; remain

रतःdevoted; engaged

धर्मेin dharma; in righteousness

हित्वाhaving abandoned

सर्वम्all

अनार्जवम्crookedness; dishonesty; lack of straightforwardness

देवताby/with (regard to) the deities

अतिथिby/with (regard to) guests

शेषेणwith the remainder; with what is left

मात्राम्a measure; a limited quantity

प्राणस्यof life; of vital breath

संलिहtaste/lick; partake (sparingly)

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

devatāḥ (deities)

atithi (guest)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Be unwavering in truth and committed to dharma; renounce deceit and crooked conduct. Practice hospitality and reverence first, then consume only what remains, in moderation, merely to sustain life.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa delivers a concise ethical injunction typical of Śānti Parva instruction: he prescribes inner integrity (truth and straightforwardness) and outward discipline (honoring deities and guests, then eating sparingly from the remainder).