Shloka 4

Devanagari script

ते सर्वे समतिक्रम्य विप्रमभ्यर्च्य चासकृत्‌ । ऊचुर्वाक्यमसंदिग्धमातिथेयस्य बान्धवा:,अतिथि-सत्कारके लिये प्रसिद्ध हुए नागराजके सब भाई-बन्धु ब्राह्मणके पास जा उसकी बारंबार पूजा करके संदेहरहित वाणीमें बोले--

Transliteration

te sarve samatikramya vipram abhyarcya cāsakṛt | ūcur vākyam asaṃdigdham ātitheyasya bāndhavāḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: Having all approached him, those kinsmen of the host—renowned for honoring guests—reverently worshipped the brahmin again and again. Then, in words free from doubt or duplicity, they addressed him, exemplifying the ethical ideal that a guest must be received with clarity, respect, and sincere intent.

Word by Word

तेthey/those

सर्वेall

समतिक्रम्यhaving approached/going up to (lit. having gone beyond/overstepped to)

विप्रम्the brahmin

अभ्यर्च्यhaving worshipped/honoured

चand

असकृत्again and again, repeatedly

ऊचुःthey said

वाक्यम्a speech/statement

असंदिग्धम्unambiguous, doubtless

आतिथेयस्यof the host (one who offers hospitality)

बान्धवाःkinsmen/relatives

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

brahmin (vipra)

kinsmen/relatives of the host (ātitheyasya bāndhavāḥ)

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?

The verse highlights atithi-dharma: honoring a guest—especially a learned brahmin—with repeated reverence and speaking to him with clear, truthful, and unambiguous words, reflecting sincerity and ethical integrity.

What is happening in the narrative?

The host’s relatives approach a brahmin, repeatedly honor him, and then address him with a definite, doubt-free statement, setting a tone of respectful hospitality and straightforward communication.