Shloka 14
अन्तर्वन-विद्यारण्योपमा
The Allegory of the Inner Forest of Knowledge
आतिथयं प्रतिगृह्नन्ति तत्र तत्र महर्षय: । अचितेषु प्रलीनेषु तेष्वन्यद् रोचते वनम्
ātithyaṃ pratigṛhṇanti tatra tatra maharṣayaḥ | aciteṣu pralīneṣu teṣv anyad rocata vanaṃ ||
大いなるリシたちは此処彼処に現れて、捧げられたもてなしを受け、礼拝を受納する。やがて、その目に見えぬ聖者たちが再び不可視へと溶け帰るとき、森は別の、驚くべき相をもって輝き出す――まるで、より微妙でブラフマン的な光輝を顕すかのように。
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Hospitality to guests—especially to the wise and holy—should be offered without attachment to recognition. When service is rendered selflessly, the sacred dimension of the world becomes perceptible; what seemed ordinary (the forest) reveals a higher radiance.
A Brahmin describes how great seers arrive in various places and accept hospitality. After receiving it, they withdraw or become unperceived, and then the forest appears transformed—shining in a distinct, wondrous way, suggesting their subtle presence and the sanctifying effect of the rite.