Shloka 72

स्वर्गगमनम्, अदितिस्तुतिः-मायातत्त्वम्, तथा पारिजात-प्रसङ्गे इन्द्रयुद्धम्

Devanagari script

पतिगर्वावलेपेन बहुमानपुरःसरम् न ददर्श गृहायाताम् उपचारेण मां शची

Transliteration

patigarvāvalepena bahumānapuraḥsaram na dadarśa gṛhāyātām upacāreṇa māṃ śacī

Translation

Blinded by pride in her husband and led on by self-importance, Śacī did not notice me when I came to her house, nor did she receive me with the courtesies due to a guest.

Word by Word

• पति: of (her) husband
• पति: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपदत्वेन

• गर्वावलेपेन: by pride and arrogance
• गर्वावलेपेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्व-अवलेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (गर्वश्च अवलेपश्च)

• बहुमानपुरःसरम्: preceded by due honor
• बहुमानपुरःसरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुमान-पुरःसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बहुमानः पुरःसरः यस्य) ‘preceded by respect’

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• गृहायाताम्: who had come home
• गृहायाताम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृह-आ-या (धातु) → आयात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘having come home’

• उपचारेण: with service/attentive reception
• उपचारेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शची: Śacī
• शची: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; the 'me' refers to a visiting sage/holy guest within the episode)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna’s honor (and his consort’s) is defended as Śacī’s pride leads her to neglect proper hospitality, justifying the corrective humiliation of Indra’s household.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Atithi-dharma and humility before Bhagavān and his associates

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pride blinds perception and leads to dharmic lapses such as neglecting proper honor to a guest.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice humility and hospitality; treat visitors and the vulnerable with deliberate respect.

Vishishtadvaita: Even exalted beings err when forgetful of dependence on the Supreme; right conduct is an expression of surrender (śeṣatva).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Śacī (Indrāṇī)
• Indra

FAQs

What is the significance of atithi-dharma (hospitality to guests) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that neglecting a worthy guest due to pride is a breach of dharma, implying that social and cosmic order are upheld through humble observance of duties.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the danger of pride in this narrative context?

By showing Śacī’s failure to even notice and properly receive a guest, Parāśara frames pride as a veil over discernment that leads directly to adharma and its consequences.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not explicitly named, the Purāṇa teaches that dharma—ultimately grounded in Vishnu’s sovereignty—must govern conduct; pride that disrupts dharma opposes the sustaining principle of the universe.