Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — Yayāti’s Forest-Renunciation

Devanagari script

अतिथीन् पूजयन्नित्यं वन्येन हविषा विभुः शिलोञ्छवृत्तिमास्थाय शेषान्नकृतभोजनः //

Transliteration

atithīn pūjayannityaṃ vanyena haviṣā vibhuḥ śiloñchavṛttimāsthāya śeṣānnakṛtabhojanaḥ //

Translation

Ever honouring guests with forest-offerings—simple produce of the wild—that noble man should adopt the ‘śiloñcha’ mode of livelihood, and eat only after the guests, taking food solely from what remains.

Word by Word

• अतिथीन् (atithīn): guests

• पूजयन् (pūjayan): honouring, worshipfully receiving

• नित्यम् (nityam): always, daily

• वन्येन (vanyena): with forest-produce, wild/gathered foods

• हविषा (haviṣā): with an offering, oblation-worthy food

• विभुः (vibhuḥ): the capable/noble one (the disciplined person)

• शिलोञ्छ-वृत्तिम् (śiloñcha-vṛttim): the śiloñcha livelihood (gleaning/collecting small amounts without burdening others)

• आस्थाय (āsthāya): having adopted

• शेष-अन्न (śeṣānna): leftover food (after serving others/guests)

• कृत-भोजनः (kṛta-bhojanaḥ): one who eats (i.e., makes his meal) [only then/therefrom].

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, dharma-teaching context)

Entities Mentioned

• Atithi (guest)
• Gṛhastha (householder ideal)
• Havis (offering/oblation food)
• Śiloñcha-vṛtti (ascetic livelihood practice)

Tags

• Dharma
• Atithi-seva
• Grihastha
• Achar
• Ritual

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not discuss pralaya directly; it teaches dharma—daily hospitality and restraint—presenting ethical order (dharma) as the stabilizing principle of life rather than a cosmological event.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It sets a high standard for the gṛhastha (and by extension a righteous king): honour guests every day, offer them the best available simple food, live by modest means (śiloñcha), and eat only after others are served—an ethic of self-restraint and public-minded generosity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it emphasizes ‘havis’—food fit to be offered—here sourced as vanya (forest produce), highlighting purity and simplicity in offerings; it contains no direct Vāstu/temple-architecture rule but reflects the broader ritual economy that supports yajña and guest-reception.