Shloka 78

Devanagari script

अवेक्ष्या इति कृत्वाहं दृढ्भक्तेति वा द्विज । चिन्त्या ममेयमिति वा सक्तूनादातुमहसि,अतः आप मुझे अपना दृढ़ भक्त, रक्षणीय और विचारणीय मानकर अतिथिको देनेके लिये यह सत्तू स्वीकार कीजिये

Transliteration

avekṣyeti kṛtvāhaṃ dṛḍha-bhakteti vā dvija | cintyā mameyam iti vā saktūn ādātum arhasi | ataḥ āpa mām ātmanaḥ dṛḍha-bhaktaṃ rakṣaṇīyaṃ ca vicāraṇīyaṃ ca matvā atithaye dātum idaṃ saktūṃs svīkuru ||

Translation

“O brāhmaṇa, whether you regard me as one who looks to you for help, or as your steadfast devotee, or as someone who deserves your thoughtful concern—please accept these roasted grains. Therefore, considering me your devoted dependent, worthy of protection and consideration, receive this sattu so that you may offer it to your guest.”

Word by Word

अवेक्ष्यhaving considered / having looked at

इतिthus

कृत्वाhaving done

अहम्I

दृढभक्तःa firm devotee

इतिthus

वाor

द्विजO brahmin

चिन्त्याto be thought of / worthy of consideration

ममof me / my

इयम्this (f.)

इतिthus

वाor

सक्तून्parched flour / sattu

आदातुम्to take / to accept

अर्हसिyou ought / you are fit

अतःtherefore

Speaker

श्षशुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

dvija (brāhmaṇa)

atithi (guest)

saktūn (sattu; roasted grain meal)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds atithi-dharma and compassionate giving: even a small, simple offering (saktu) becomes ethically weighty when given with humility, devotion, and concern for another’s duty to honor a guest.

What is happening in the narrative?

A speaker addresses a brāhmaṇa, urging him to accept a humble food offering (sattu). The acceptance is framed not as personal consumption but as enabling proper hospitality toward an arriving guest, emphasizing protection and considerate regard for the giver.