Shloka 443
Nāga-āyatana-darśana-pratīkṣā — The Brāhmaṇa’s Request and Waiting on the Gomatī
आज्याहुतिमहाज्वालैर्यज्ञवाटो यथाग्निभि: । नरेश्वर! अपने नित्यकर्म तथा नारदजीका आतिथ्य-सत्कार करके वे दोनों ऋषि भी कुशासनपर बैठ गये। वहाँ उन तीनोंके बैठ जानेपर वह प्रदेश घीकी आहुतिसे प्रज्वलित विशाल लपटोंवाले तीन अग्नियोंसे प्रकाशित यज्ञमण्डपकी भाँति सुशोभित होने लगा
ājya-āhuti-mahā-jvālair yajña-vāṭo yathā agnibhiḥ | nareśvara! apane nitya-karma tathā nāradajī-kā ātithya-satkāra karke ve donoṃ ṛṣi bhī kuśāsana-par baiṭh gaye | vahāṃ un tīnoṃ-ke baiṭh jāne-par vah pradeśa ghī-kī āhuti-se prajvalit viśāl lapaṭoṃ-vāle tīn agniyoṃ-se prakāśit yajña-maṇḍapa-kī bhānti suśobhita hone lagā |
Vaiśampāyana berkata, “Wahai raja, sebagaimana pelataran yajña bersinar ketika api-api menjulang dengan nyala besar karena persembahan ghee, demikian pula tempat itu menjadi bercahaya. Setelah menunaikan kewajiban harian mereka dan memuliakan Nārada dengan penghormatan tamu sebagaimana mestinya, kedua resi itu pun duduk di atas alas rumput kuśa. Ketika ketiganya telah duduk, kawasan itu tampak elok—laksana balai yajña yang diterangi tiga api dengan nyala agung yang disuapi persembahan ghee.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed through disciplined daily observances (nitya-karma) and proper hospitality (ātithya) to a revered guest. Ethical order is shown as inseparable from ritual order: honoring guests and maintaining regular duties makes a place spiritually radiant, like a well-tended sacrificial hall.
After completing their daily rites and respectfully receiving Nārada, two sages sit on kuśa-grass mats along with him. With all three seated, the scene is poetically compared to a yajña-pavilion lit by three blazing fires fed with ghee, emphasizing sanctity and auspiciousness.