Shloka 64

दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः

Devanagari script

अहो ऽस्य तपसो वीर्यम् इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ च सः तस्मात्तथा पूजनीयाः सर्वे ह्यतिथयः सदा

Transliteration

aho 'sya tapaso vīryam ityuktvā prayayau ca saḥ tasmāttathā pūjanīyāḥ sarve hyatithayaḥ sadā

Translation

Diciendo: «¡Ah, cuán poderosa es la fuerza nacida de su tapas!», partió. Por ello, todos los huéspedes (atithi) han de ser honrados siempre de ese mismo modo; pues al servir al atithi se sirve al Señor (Pati), que por el dharma prueba y eleva al paśu, el alma atada.

Word by Word

• aho: ah!/indeed

• asya: of this (man)

• tapasaḥ: of austerity/tapas

• vīryam: potency, spiritual power

• iti: thus

• uktvā: having said

• prayayau: went forth/departed

• ca: and

• saḥ: he

• tasmāt: therefore

• tathā: in that manner/accordingly

• pūjanīyāḥ: worthy to be worshiped/honored

• sarve: all

• hi: indeed

• atithayaḥ: guests, unannounced visitors

• sadā: always

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana; verse as a concluding injunction drawn from the episode)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It links daily dharma to Shiva-bhakti: honoring the atithi is treated as a form of worship, reinforcing that devotion to Mahadeva is expressed through right conduct and reverence.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva-tattva is implied as the hidden Pati who can be approached through dharma; the atithi becomes a sacred occasion where the paśu’s bonds (pāśa) loosen through humility, service, and purity.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Atithi-pūjā as a dharmic observance allied to Pāśupata discipline: tapas (austerity) generates vīrya, and honoring guests preserves sattva and supports Shiva-oriented sādhanā.