Shloka 23

Pātra-Nirṇaya and Ritual Procedure: Who to Feed, Who to Avoid, and Step-by-Step Śrāddha Performance

Devanagari script

काले तत्रातिथिं प्राप्तम् अन्नकामं नृपाध्वगम् ब्राह्मणैर् अभ्यनुज्ञातः कामं तम् अपि भोजयेत्

Transliteration

kāle tatrātithiṃ prāptam annakāmaṃ nṛpādhvagam brāhmaṇair abhyanujñātaḥ kāmaṃ tam api bhojayet

Translation

If, at the proper time, a guest arrives there—seeking food, a traveler upon the king’s road—then, with the Brahmins’ consent, he too should be fed according to his wish.

Word by Word

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• अतिथिम्: a guest
• अतिथिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राप्तम्: arrived
• प्राप्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अतिथिम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अन्नकामम्: desiring food
• अन्नकामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्न + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अन्नस्य कामः)

• नृपाध्वगम्: a traveler on the king’s road (wayfarer)
• नृपाध्वगम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + अध्वग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (नृपः अध्वगः इव/नृपस्य अध्वगः—राजमार्गे गच्छन्)

• ब्राह्मणैः: by the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणैः: Karana/Agent (Instrumental agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अभ्यनुज्ञातः: having been permitted/approved
• अभ्यनुज्ञातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + अनु + ज्ञा (धातु) → अनुज्ञात (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृपद-विशेषणम् (यः)

• कामम्: as one wishes / freely
• कामम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कामम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/particle): ‘कामम्’ = यथेष्टम्/निःशङ्कम्

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Emphasis/Addition (Nipāta)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) (causative: भोजय-)
• Form: णिजन्त (causative) + विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Conduct during rites when an atithi arrives: feeding a traveler with brāhmaṇa consent as part of gṛhastha-dharma

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate and socially directive

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hospitality to the unexpected guest—especially a hungry traveler—is a direct obligation of dharma and must be integrated into ritual life, not postponed by it.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat the needy interrupting your plans as a priority; offer food, time, and respect, coordinating responsibly with community/elders when appropriate.

Vishishtadvaita: The atithi is to be served as Nārāyaṇa’s presence (antaryāmin): God is honored through compassionate service to embodied beings.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Brāhmaṇas
• Atithi (guest)
• Traveler (pathika/nṛpādhvaga)

FAQs

What is the significance of atithi-dharma in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames hospitality as a core household obligation: even an unplanned traveler seeking food should be fed, making service (anna-dāna) a visible act of maintaining dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper conduct for householders here?

Parāśara teaches that feeding is to be done at the proper time and in right order, and that a guest-traveler may be fed as well—especially when sanctioned by the Brahmins—showing discipline joined to compassion.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the ethic reflects a Vaishnava Purana’s view that dharma and social order are upheld under the Supreme’s sovereignty; feeding the needy becomes an offering that aligns life with that sustaining Reality.