Shloka 9

महाभूत–इन्द्रिय–मनस्–बुद्धि–अन्तरात्मा विवेकः | Discrimination of Elements, Senses, Mind, Intellect, and Inner Self

Devanagari script

वार्षिक संचयं केचित्‌ केचिद्‌ द्वादशवार्षिकम्‌ । कुर्वन्त्यतिथिपूजार्थ यज्ञतन्त्रार्थमेव वा,कोई वर्षभरके लिये और कोई बारह वर्षोंके लिये अन्नका संग्रह करते हैं। उनका यह संग्रह अतिथि-सेवा तथा यज्ञकर्मके लिये होता है

Transliteration

vārṣika-saṃcayaṃ kecit kecid dvādaśa-vārṣikam | kurvanty atithi-pūjārthaṃ yajña-tantrārtham eva vā ||

Translation

ಕೆಲವರು ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷದಷ್ಟು, ಇನ್ನೂ ಕೆಲವರು ಹನ್ನೆರಡು ವರ್ಷದಷ್ಟು ಧಾನ್ಯವನ್ನು ಸಂಗ್ರಹಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದರೆ ಈ ಸಂಗ್ರಹ ಲೋಭಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಅಲ್ಲ; ಅತಿಥಿ-ಪೂಜೆಯಿಗೂ ಯಜ್ಞಕರ್ಮಗಳ ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆಯಿಗೂ ಎಂಬ ಧರ್ಮಾರ್ಥಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಮಾತ್ರ.

Word by Word

वार्षिकम्annual (for a year)

सञ्चयम्accumulation, store

केचित्some (people)

केचित्some (others)

द्वादशवार्षिकम्twelve-year (lasting twelve years)

कुर्वन्तिthey do/make

अतिथिपूजार्थम्for the purpose of honoring guests

यज्ञतन्त्रार्थम्for the purpose of the sacrificial procedure/ritual system

एवindeed, only

वाor

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

atithi (guest)

yajña (sacrificial rite)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Accumulation is ethically justified when it serves dharma—supporting hospitality to guests and fulfilling sacrificial/ritual duties—rather than personal hoarding or greed.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Vyāsa explains that some householders store provisions for long periods, and clarifies that such storage can be intended for honoring guests and maintaining yajña-related obligations.