Shloka 44
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
एतद् व्रतं मम सदा हृदि सम्परिवर्तते । गृहस्थानां च सुश्रोणि नातिथेर्विद्यते परम्
etad vrataṁ mama sadā hṛdi samparivartate | gṛhasthānāṁ ca suśroṇi nātither vidyate param ||
ಸುಶ್ರೋಣಿ! ಈ ವ್ರತವು ನನ್ನ ಹೃದಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಸದಾ ಪರಿವರ್ತಿಸುತ್ತಿರುತ್ತದೆ—ಗೃಹಸ್ಥರಿಗೆ ಅತಿಥಿ-ಸೇವೆಯಿಗಿಂತ ಮೇಲಾದ ಧರ್ಮ ಮತ್ತೊಂದಿಲ್ಲ.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
For a householder, the foremost ethical and religious obligation is atithi-sevā—welcoming, honoring, and caring for a guest. Bhīṣma presents this as a personal vow that continually guides his conduct.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma is speaking and addresses a woman respectfully as “suśroṇī,” emphasizing that the duty of hospitality is central to the householder’s way of life.