Shloka 17

Gārhasthya-dharma: Vāsudeva–Pṛthivī-saṃvāda

Householder Duties and Daily Offerings

Devanagari script

पितृन्‌ संतर्पयित्वा तु बलिं कुर्याद्‌ विधानतः । वैश्वदेवं ततः कुर्यात्‌ पश्चाद्‌ ब्राह्यगवाचनम्‌

Transliteration

pitṝn santarpayitvā tu baliṁ kuryād vidhānataḥ | vaiśvadevaṁ tataḥ kuryāt paścād brāhyagavācanam ||

Translation

Habiendo satisfecho primero a los Pitṛs—los espíritus ancestrales—con las ofrendas prescritas, debe uno presentar luego el bali cotidiano conforme al rito. Después ha de realizar el sacrificio de Vaiśvadeva, y finalmente proceder a la recitación y enseñanza del saber sagrado brahmánico—ordenando así los deberes del hogar según el dharma.

Word by Word

• पितॄन्: the ancestors (fathers)
• पितॄन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• संतर्पयित्वा: having satisfied (fed/propitiated)
• Type: Verb
• Root: संतर्पय् (संतृप् caus.)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (causative usage), Non-finite

• तु: but/indeed/then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• बलिम्: an offering (bali)
• बलिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कुर्यात्: should do/should perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Vidhi-lin (optative), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• विधानतः: according to rule/prescription
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधानतस्

• वैश्वदेवम्: the Vaiśvadeva rite/oblation
• वैश्वदेवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्वदेव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• कुर्यात्: should do/should perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Vidhi-lin (optative), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात्

• ब्राह्यगवाचनम्: the calling/invitation of brāhmaṇas (for the meal/rite)
• ब्राह्यगवाचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मगवाचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Bali (ritual offering)
• Vaiśvadeva (rite)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches the proper sequence of a householder’s daily dharmic duties: first honor the ancestors (Pitṛ-yajña/tarpaṇa), then make the prescribed bali offering, then perform the Vaiśvadeva rite, and finally engage in sacred recitation/teaching—showing that ritual gratitude, orderly conduct, and scriptural learning together sustain dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is instructing on household religious observances within the Anuśāsana Parva’s broader discourse on dharma. Here he outlines a step-by-step routine of offerings and study, emphasizing correct procedure (vidhānataḥ) and the ethical priority of honoring ancestors and the divine before turning to scriptural recitation.