Shloka 9
अतिथिरुवाच अहमप्यत्र मुह्यामि ममाप्येष मनोरथ: । न च संनिश्चयं यामि बहुद्वारे त्रिविष्टपे,अतिथिने कहा--विप्रवर! मेरा भी ऐसा ही मनोरथ है। मैं भी आपकी ही भाँति श्रेष्ठ धर्मका आश्रय लेना चाहता हूँ, परंतु मुझे भी इस विषयमें मोह ही बना हुआ है। स्वर्गके अनेक द्वार (साधन) हैं, अतः किसका आश्रय लिया जाय? इसका निश्चय मैं भी नहीं कर पाता हूँ
atithir uvāca aham apy atra muhyāmi mamāpy eṣa manorathaḥ | na ca saṃniścayaṃ yāmi bahudvāre triviṣṭape ||
The guest said: “I too am bewildered in this matter; I also cherish this very aspiration. Like you, I wish to take refuge in the highest dharma, yet confusion still grips me. Heaven has many gates—many means of attainment—so I cannot determine with certainty which path should be chosen.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights moral and spiritual uncertainty: even a sincere seeker can be confused because dharma and the means to attain heaven are presented as many. It underscores the need for discernment (saṃniścaya) when multiple legitimate-seeming paths are available.
In a dialogue, the guest responds to the brāhmaṇa, admitting that he shares the same aspiration for the highest dharma but is equally perplexed. He points out that heaven has many ‘doors’ (methods), and he cannot decide which to adopt.