Shloka 68

Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)

Devanagari script

मया कृतं सुरश्रेष्ठा यावत्कल्पक्षयादिह । चिन्तयध्वं लोकहितं यथाधीकारमी क्वरा:

Transliteration

mayā kṛtaṃ suraśreṣṭhā yāvat kalpakṣayād iha | cintayadhvaṃ lokahitaṃ yathādhikāram īśvarāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O best of the gods, what I have undertaken here is to endure until the end of the aeon. Therefore, each of you, according to your rightful sphere of authority, reflect upon and carry out what is for the welfare of the worlds.”

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Tritiya, Eka

• कृतम्: done, made
• कृतम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Napumsaka, Prathama, Eka

• सुरश्रेष्ठाः: O best of the gods
• सुरश्रेष्ठाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Pum, Sambodhana, Bahu

• यावत्: as long as, until
• यावत्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत्

• कल्पक्षयात्: from the end of the aeon (till the aeon’s end)
• कल्पक्षयात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पक्षय
• Form: Pum, Panchami, Eka

• इह: here, in this world
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• चिन्तयध्वम्: think, consider
• चिन्तयध्वम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त्
• Form: Lot (imperative), Madhyama, Bahu, Atmanepada

• लोकहितम्: the welfare of the world
• लोकहितम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकहित
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitiya, Eka

• यथा: according as, in the manner that
• यथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• अधिकारम्: authority, competence, entitlement
• अधिकारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिकार
• Form: Pum, Dvitiya, Eka

• इ: thus (particle; here likely part of a corrupt reading)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (इ)

• क्व: where? (interrogative; likely corrupt here)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व

• रा: unresolved fragment (text appears corrupt)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: —

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• suraśreṣṭhāḥ (best of the gods)
• īśvarāḥ (lords/divine rulers)
• kalpa (aeon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes lokahita (the welfare of all) as a guiding aim, to be pursued through yathādhikāra—acting in accordance with one’s proper role, authority, and responsibility. Ethical action is framed as role-based stewardship directed toward the common good.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a directive addressed to exalted divine powers (“best of the gods”), stating that his undertaking will stand until the end of the cosmic cycle, and urging them to deliberate and act for the world’s welfare within their respective jurisdictions.