Shloka 55

Devanagari script

स्वस्ति वाच्य द्विजानादौ ततः कार्ये प्रवर्तिते । समाप्ते पर्वणि ततः स्वशकक्‍्त्या पूजयेद्‌ द्विजान्‌,पहले ब्राह्मणोंसे स्वस्तिवाचन कराकर कथावाचनका कार्य प्रारम्भ कराये। फिर पर्व समाप्त होनेपर अपनी शक्तिके अनुसार उन ब्राह्मणोंकी पूजा करे

Transliteration

svasti vācya dvijān ādau tataḥ kārye pravartite | samāpte parvaṇi tataḥ svaśaktyā pūjayed dvijān ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “First, have the Brahmins pronounce auspicious blessings, and then begin the intended recitation/ritual undertaking. When the parvan (section) is completed, one should, according to one’s means, honor and worship those Brahmins.”

Word by Word

स्वस्तिauspicious benediction; 'svasti'

वाच्यto be recited/uttered

द्विजान्Brahmins (twice-born)

आदौat the beginning

ततःthen/thereafter

कार्येin the rite/task (of recitation)

प्रवर्तितेwhen (it) has been set in motion/started

समाप्तेwhen completed/finished

पर्वणिin the parvan/section

ततःthen/thereafter

स्वशक्त्याaccording to one's own ability

पूजयेत्should honor/worship

द्विजान्the Brahmins

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

dvija (Brahmins)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Begin sacred or formal undertakings with auspicious benedictions, and conclude by honoring the officiants/reciters—especially Brahmins—according to one’s means, emphasizing gratitude, propriety, and dharmic reciprocity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana gives a procedural instruction for conducting a parvan/recitation: first arrange the ‘svasti’ blessing by Brahmins to inaugurate the work, and after the section ends, offer them due honor and worship within one’s capacity.