Shloka 85
Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
घृतं ममार्चिषो लोके जन्तूनां प्राणधारणम् । घृतार्चिरहमव्यग्रैवेंदज्ै: परिकीर्तित:
ghṛtaṃ mamārciṣo loke jantūnāṃ prāṇadhāraṇam | ghṛtārciḥ aham avyagrair vedajñaiḥ parikīrtitaḥ ||
En ce monde, le ghee soutient le souffle vital des êtres, car il attise mes flammes. C’est pourquoi les sages au cœur paisible, connaisseurs du Veda, me célèbrent comme « Ghṛtārci » : celui dont l’éclat est nourri par le ghee.
तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that offerings like ghee are not merely ceremonial: they symbolize and enact the sustaining of life (prāṇa) and the maintenance of dharma/ṛta through composed, knowledgeable practice. Hence Agni is praised as “Ghṛtārci,” whose flame is nourished by ghee.
A divine voice identifies itself through an epithet: explaining that ghee kindles its flame and supports beings’ vitality, it states that Veda-knowing sages therefore call it “Ghṛtārci.” This functions as self-description and doctrinal clarification within the Śānti Parva’s reflective discourse.