Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 14

Pūru-vaṁśa, Duṣmanta–Śakuntalā, and the Rise of Mahārāja Bharata

Devanagari script

आस्यतां ह्यरविन्दाक्ष गृह्यतामर्हणं च न: । भुज्यतां सन्ति नीवारा उष्यतां यदि रोचते ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

āsyatāṁ hy aravindākṣa gṛhyatām arhaṇaṁ ca naḥ bhujyatāṁ santi nīvārā uṣyatāṁ yadi rocate

Translation

ഹേ അരവിന്ദാക്ഷനായ രാജാവേ, ദയവായി ഇരുന്ന് ഞങ്ങളുടെ യഥാശക്തി ആദരസത്കാരം സ്വീകരിക്കൂ. ഇവിടെ നീവാര അരിയുണ്ട്, അത് ഭുജിക്കൂ; ഇഷ്ടമെങ്കിൽ മടിയില്ലാതെ ഇവിടെ താമസിക്കൂ.

Synonyms

• āsyatām: let (him) sit
• āsyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ās (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; polite imperative ‘let (him) sit’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta; emphasis (निपात)

• aravinda-akṣa: O lotus-eyed one
• aravinda-akṣa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aravinda (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi ‘aravinda-ākṣaḥ’ = one whose eyes are like lotuses

• gṛhyatām: let (it) be accepted
• gṛhyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; passive/impersonal polite ‘let it be accepted’

• arhaṇam: honor/worship (offering)
• arhaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/2nd), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात)

• naḥ: of us/our
• naḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana; enclitic

• bhujyatām: let (them) be eaten
• bhujyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; passive/polite ‘let it be eaten’

• santi: there are
• santi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana

• nīvārāḥ: wild rice grains
• nīvārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana

• uṣyatām: let (him) stay
• uṣyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु) (uṣ- as desiderative/causative stem in passive imperative usage)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; passive/polite ‘let (him) stay/dwell’

• yadi: if
• yadi: Hetu/Śarta (हेतु/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Śarthe avyaya (conditional particle)

• rocate: is pleasing
• rocate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ruc (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

Characters & Entities

• Aravindaksha (lotus-eyed Lord/guest)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about honoring guests (atithi-seva)?

This verse models atithi-seva as dharma: offering a seat, respectful worship, simple food, and a place to stay—seeing the guest with reverence and devotion.

Why does the speaker call the guest 'Aravindaksha' (lotus-eyed)?

The address ‘lotus-eyed’ expresses deep reverence and devotion, treating the guest as supremely worthy of honor—often a sign of recognizing divine presence or saintly greatness.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Welcome guests with sincerity: offer a seat, kind words, and whatever simple food or help you can—making hospitality an act of devotion rather than display.