Shloka 18
Nakula’s Counsel on Yajña, Dāna, and Tyāga (नकुलोपदेशः—यज्ञदानत्यागविचारः)
पितृदेवातिथिकृते समारम्भो5त्र शस्यते । अत्रैव हि महाराज त्रिवर्ग: केवलं फलम्
pitṛdevātithikṛte samārambho 'tra śasyate | atraiva hi mahārāja trivargaḥ kevalaṁ phalam ||
गृहस्थाश्रमात देव, पितर आणि अतिथी यांच्यासाठी जे सत्कार-यज्ञादि कर्म केले जाते, ते विशेष प्रशंसनीय आहे. कारण, हे महाराज, याच आश्रमात धर्म, अर्थ आणि काम—हे तिन्ही पुरुषार्थ खऱ्या अर्थाने फळास येतात.
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the householder’s life is the primary arena for fulfilling social and sacred obligations—honoring gods, ancestors, and guests—and that this āśrama uniquely enables the balanced attainment of dharma, artha, and kāma.
Nakula addresses a king and argues for the excellence of the gṛhastha-āśrama, emphasizing that organized duties such as worship, ancestral offerings, and hospitality are especially appropriate and fruitful in household life.