Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 36

Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense

Devanagari script

तमानर्चातिथिं भूप: प्रत्युत्थानासनार्हणै: । ययाचेऽभ्यवहाराय पादमूलमुपागत: ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

tam ānarcātithiṁ bhūpaḥ pratyutthānāsanārhaṇaiḥ yayāce ’bhyavahārāya pāda-mūlam upāgataḥ

Translation

राजा ने उस अनर्चित अतिथि दुर्वासा मुनि का उठकर स्वागत किया, उन्हें आसन दिया और पूजन-सामग्री से विधिवत् अर्चन किया। फिर उनके चरणों के पास बैठकर विनयपूर्वक उनसे भोजन करने की प्रार्थना की।

Synonyms

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ānarcā: honored; worshipped
• ānarcā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√narc (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• atithim: the guest
• atithim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhūpaḥ: the king
• bhūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• pratyutthāna-āsana-arhaṇaiḥ: with (acts of) rising to greet, offering a seat, and honoring
• pratyutthāna-āsana-arhaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyutthāna (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक) + arhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative: 'rising, seat, honoring'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter, collective), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• yayāce: requested; asked
• yayāce: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yāc (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• abhyavahārāya: for eating; for a meal
• abhyavahārāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhyavahāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) (also used as action-noun), चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• pāda-mūlam: the foot-base; at (his) feet
• pāda-mūlam: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'at the feet'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• upāgataḥ: having approached
• upāgataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√gam (धातु) (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Ambarīṣa Mahārāja
• Durvāsā Muni

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about honoring guests (atithi-seva)?

This verse shows ideal atithi-seva: the king rises, offers a seat, renders respectful service, and humbly invites the guest to take prasāda/food—treating the guest as worthy of worship.

Why did King Ambarisha request Durvasa Muni to eat?

Durvāsā arrived as a revered guest; Ambarīṣa followed dharma by honoring him and inviting him to accept a meal, approaching his feet in humility.

Practical application of atithi-seva and humility in modern life?

Receive guests respectfully, offer hospitality within your means, and keep a humble attitude—especially toward saints, elders, and teachers—seeing service as a form of devotion.