Shloka 80

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

अभ्यागतो ऽतिथिश्चाग्निः पोष्यवर्गा उदाहृतः / भरणं पोष्यवर्गस्य प्रशस्तं स्वर्गसाधनम्

Transliteration

abhyāgato 'tithiścāgniḥ poṣyavargā udāhṛtaḥ / bharaṇaṃ poṣyavargasya praśastaṃ svargasādhanam

Translation

L’hôte qui arrive est déclaré être véritablement comme le Feu (Agni) et il est compté parmi ceux qu’il faut servir. Soutenir et nourrir ceux qui doivent être entretenus est loué comme un moyen d’atteindre le ciel.

Word by Word

• अभ्यागतः: arrived
• अभ्यागतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + आ + √गम् (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘arrived’

• अतिथिः: guest
• अतिथिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अग्निः: fire (sacred fire)
• अग्निः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पोष्यवर्गाः: those to be supported (dependents)
• पोष्यवर्गाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पोष्यवर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पोष्यः वर्गः)

• उदाहृतः: is declared
• उदाहृतः: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + आ + √हृ (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is declared/said’

• भरणम्: support/maintenance
• भरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पोष्यवर्गस्य: of the dependents
• पोष्यवर्गस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पोष्यवर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• प्रशस्तम्: praiseworthy
• प्रशस्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (भरणम्)

• स्वर्गसाधनम्: a means to heaven
• स्वर्गसाधनम्: Karta (Predicate nominative/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्गस्य साधनम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Atithi is like Agni and belongs to those to be maintained; sustaining dependents and guests is praised as a means to svarga.

Vedantic Theme: Seeing the divine in the other (Agni/Devatā-bhāva) and converting daily life into yajña; karma purified by right intention.

Application: Practice consistent hospitality; ensure food, water, and respectful reception for guests and those in need; institutionalize care in community life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.79 (those to be maintained); Garuda Purana 1.213.81 (one lives by whom many live)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Atithi (Guest)

FAQs

What is the importance of atithi-sevā (serving a guest) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse equates the arriving guest with Agni and places the guest among those who must be nourished; honoring and supporting such persons is praised as a direct source of merit leading to svarga.

How does this verse relate to karma and the afterlife outcome?

By declaring the act of sustaining the ‘poṣya-varga’ as svarga-sādhana, the verse links compassionate household duty to positive karmic results and favorable post-death destinations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat guests and dependents with reverence, offer food/water and respectful care, and prioritize consistent support of those under your responsibility as a daily dharmic practice.