Shloka 14

Pratyakṣa–Āgama–Ācāra: Doubt, Proof, and the Practice of Dharma (प्रत्यक्ष–आगम–आचारविचारः)

Devanagari script

तेषां होमक्रिया धर्म: पठचयज्ञनिषेवणम्‌ | भागं च पजञ्चयज्ञस्य वेदोक्तस्यथानुपालनम्‌

Transliteration

teṣāṁ homakriyā dharmaḥ paṭhya-yajña-niṣevaṇam | bhāgaṁ ca pañca-yajñasya vedoktasyātha-anupālanam ||

Translation

Pour eux —les ascètes qui demeurent en forêt— le devoir juste est d’accomplir les offrandes au feu (homa) et de pratiquer sans relâche les sacrifices quotidiens prescrits. Ils doivent aussi, selon une répartition et un ordre convenables, observer sans défaut les cinq sacrifices védiques (pañca-yajña) tels qu’énoncés, soutenant l’ordre sacré par le rite discipliné et l’étude.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them (of those)
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• होमक्रिया: the act of oblation (homa-rite)
• होमक्रिया: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम-क्रिया
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: duty; prescribed practice
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पञ्चयज्ञनिषेवणम्: practice/observance of the five sacrifices
• पञ्चयज्ञनिषेवणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च-यज्ञ-निषेवण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• भागम्: a portion; share
• भागम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पञ्चयज्ञस्य: of the fivefold sacrifice (pañca-yajña)
• पञ्चयज्ञस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च-यज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वेदोक्तस्य: as enjoined in the Veda
• वेदोक्तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदोक्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अथ: then; moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अनुपालनम्: continuous observance; following
• अनुपालनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु-पालन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Maheśvara (speaker)
• homa (fire-offering)
• pañca-yajña / pañcamahāyajña (five great sacrifices)
• Veda (as authority for injunctions)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that a vānaprastha’s dharma is disciplined continuity: daily fire-offerings (agnihotra/homa), sacred study/recitation, and the steady observance of the five Vedic sacrifices in an orderly manner, so that life in the forest remains anchored in Vedic responsibility rather than mere withdrawal.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Maheśvara is instructing about āśrama-dharma, specifying the prescribed conduct for those in the vānaprastha stage: maintaining ritual fire, engaging in recitation/study, and regularly performing the pañcamahāyajñas according to Vedic injunction.