Shloka 11

ऋभु–निदाघ-संवादः—अद्वैत-उपदेशः, समता, वासुदेव-स्वरूप-एकत्वम्

Devanagari script

भो विप्रवर्य भोक्तव्यं यद् अन्नं भवतो गृहे तत् कथ्यतां कदन्नेषु न प्रीतिः सततं मम

Transliteration

bho vipravarya bhoktavyaṃ yad annaṃ bhavato gṛhe tat kathyatāṃ kadanneṣu na prītiḥ satataṃ mama

Translation

O best of Brahmins, I shall partake of whatever food is in your house; yet tell me—why is my heart never at ease when it comes to unwholesome fare?

Word by Word

• भो: O!
• भो: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• विप्र-वर्य: O excellent Brahmin
• विप्र-वर्य: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (वर्यः विप्रः)

• भोक्तव्यम्: is to be eaten / should be eaten
• भोक्तव्यम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेयार्थे (to be eaten)

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-यत् (relative)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• भवतः: of you/your
• भवतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; आदरार्थक-प्रयोगः (honorific)

• गृहे: in (your) house
• गृहे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तद्-शब्दः (correlative)

• कथ्यताम्: let it be told
• कथ्यताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• कदन्नेषु: in bad food / among inferior dishes
• कदन्नेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• प्रीतिः: pleasure/liking
• प्रीतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative)

• मम: of me/my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

Speaker

A royal or noble guest addressing a Brahmin host (vipravarya) within the dynasty narrative frame narrated by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: If one is truly equanimous, the mind should not be disturbed by the quality of food; persistent unease reveals latent attachment/aversion needing discernment.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Observe where discomfort arises in daily choices (food, comfort, praise) and use it as a mirror to reduce rāga-dveṣa through mindful restraint and prayerful offering.

Vishishtadvaita: Detachment is not negation of the world but purification of the self’s dispositions so that all acts can be offered in devotion to the Supreme.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmin (Vipra)

FAQs

What is the significance of food and hospitality in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights atithi-dharma: a guest expresses willingness to accept what is available, yet raises a moral concern about unwholesome food—showing that hospitality is guided by both generosity and purity.

How does Sage Parāśara frame ethical instruction through narrative dialogue?

By embedding dharma-questions in conversations between social roles (guest and Brahmin host), the Purana teaches practical righteousness within the larger historical lineage accounts.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s dharma-teaching supports Vishnu as the supreme sustainer of order—right conduct in daily life is presented as participation in that sustaining cosmic sovereignty.