Shloka 9

Jñāna-yoga and Karma-phala: Manu–Bṛhaspati on Akṣara and the Limits of Mantra

Devanagari script

अतिथीनां च सर्वेषां प्रेष्याणां स्वजनस्य च । सामान्य भोजन भृत्यै: पुरुषस्य प्रशस्यते

Transliteration

atithīnāṁ ca sarveṣāṁ preṣyāṇāṁ svajanasya ca | sāmānyaṁ bhojanaṁ bhṛtyaiḥ puruṣasya praśasyate ||

Translation

Bhishma dit : Pour tous les hôtes, pour ses serviteurs et pour les siens également, il est loué comme conduite juste du maître de maison que le repas soit le même—partagé sans discrimination. Cet enseignement souligne le dharma domestique : l’hospitalité et l’équité au sein du foyer ne sont pas des politesses facultatives, mais des devoirs éthiques qui soutiennent l’harmonie sociale et la droiture personnelle.

Word by Word

• {'atithi': 'guest (one who arrives without a fixed appointment

• a recipient of hospitality)', 'sarveṣām': 'of all', 'preṣya': 'servant, attendant, one employed to carry out tasks', 'svajana': 'one’s own people

• family/kinsmen', 'sāmānya': 'common, equal, the same (without special distinction)', 'bhojana': 'food

• act of eating', 'bhṛtya': 'servant/retainer (one maintained by wages/support)', 'puruṣa': 'man

• person (here, the householder as an ethical agent)', 'praśasyate': 'is praised

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• guest (atithi)
• servants/attendants (preṣya, bhṛtya)
• family/kinsmen (svajana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A householder should provide the same meal to guests, servants, and family—practicing hospitality and fairness without partiality. Ethical living is shown through daily acts of equitable care.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on proper household conduct, highlighting how everyday domestic choices—like sharing food equally—embody righteousness.