Shloka 37

Adhyaya 29 — Alarka’s Inquiry and Madalasa’s Teaching on Householder Dharma (Gārhasthya), Vaiśvadeva, and Atithi Hospitality

Sanskrit

अदत्त्वा तु न भोक्तव्यं यथाविभवमात्मनः ।

पूजयित्वातिथीन्निष्टान् ज्ञातीन् बन्धूंस्तथार्थिनः ॥

Transliteration

adattvā tu na bhoktavyaṃ yathāvibhavam ātmanaḥ / pūjayitvātithīn niṣṭān jñātīn bandhūṃs tathārthinaḥ

Translation

自らの力に応じて先に施しをせずに食してはならない。到来した客人をはじめ、親族・縁者、そして助けを求める者を敬いもてなした後に、（はじめて）食すべきである。

Word by Word

• अदत्त्वा: without giving
• अदत्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक-क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘a-dattvā’ = ‘without giving’

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारण-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• भोक्तव्यम्: should be eaten
• भोक्तव्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भुज् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; भावे प्रयोगः ‘it is to be eaten’

• यथा: according to
• यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/रीति-अव्यय (according to/as)

• विभवम्: one’s means/ability
• विभवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (यथा-सम्बद्ध)

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूजयित्वा: having honored
• पूजयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having honored’

• अतिथीन्: guests
• अतिथीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• निष्टान्: proper/desired (guests)
• निष्टान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (अतिथि-विशेषण)

• ज्ञातीन्: kinsmen
• ज्ञातीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• बन्धून्: relatives/friends
• बन्धून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/रीति-अव्यय (likewise/also)

• अर्थिनः: supplicants/seekers
• अर्थिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (अर्थिन्-शब्दस्य प्रायः द्वितीया बहुवचन ‘अर्थिनः’ वैदिक/पुराण-प्रयोग)

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction voice within the Markandeya Purana’s didactic section

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics of eating
• Hospitality
• Charity
• Social responsibility

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Personal consumption is morally conditioned: the householder’s right to enjoy is preceded by duties to guests, family networks, and the vulnerable.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma instruction; not within the five-fold cosmological-historical markers.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Not eating before giving’ is a practice of ego-thinning: it trains the self to become a steward of resources rather than an owner.