Shloka 48

Sarasvatī–Tārkṣya Saṃvāda: Agnihotra-vidhi, Dāna-phala, and Mokṣa-prasaṅga (सरस्वती–तार्क्ष्यसंवादः)

Devanagari script

तमप्यथ महात्मानं सर्वे ते पुरुषर्षभा: । पाद्यार््यभ्यां यथान्यायमुपतस्थूर्मनीषिण:,तब उन सभी श्रेष्ठ मनीषी पुरुषोंने उन महात्मा नारदजीको भी पाद्य आदि देकर उनका यथायोग्य सत्कार किया

Transliteration

tam apy atha mahātmānaṃ sarve te puruṣarṣabhāḥ | pādyārghyābhyāṃ yathānyāyam upatasthur manīṣiṇaḥ ||

Translation

Then those eminent men, the best among persons and wise in conduct, also approached that great-souled Nārada and, in accordance with proper custom, honored him duly by offering the ceremonial water for washing the feet and the arghya offering.

Word by Word

तम्him

अपिalso

अथthen

महात्मानम्the great-souled one

सर्वेall

तेthose

पुरुषर्षभाःbulls among men, best of men

पाद्यwith water for washing the feet (pādya)

अर्घ्याभ्याम्with arghya-offerings

यथाas, according to

न्यायम्proper rule, propriety

उपतस्थुःthey attended upon / honored

मनीषिणःthe wise men

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Nārada

puruṣarṣabhāḥ (eminent men/assembled sages or nobles)

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?

Dharma is upheld through proper atithi-satkāra (honoring a guest), especially a revered sage: offering pādya and arghya according to established custom expresses humility, gratitude, and respect for spiritual authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

After events already in motion, the assembled eminent and wise men formally receive Nārada. They approach him and perform the customary rites of welcome—offering water for his feet and the arghya—thereby giving him due honor.