Shloka 6

Adhyaya 61 — The Second Manvantara Begins: The Brahmin’s Swift Journey and Varuthini’s Temptation on Himavat

Sanskrit

मृदुस्वभावः सद्वृत्तो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः ।

सदातिथिप्रियो रात्रावागतानां समाश्रयः ॥

Transliteration

mṛdu-svabhāvaḥ sadvṛtto veda-vedāṅga-pāragaḥ |

sadātithi-priyo rātrāv āgatānāṃ samāśrayaḥ ||

Translation

तो स्वभावाने मृदू, सदाचारी आणि वेद-वेदांगांत पारंगत होता. अतिथिप्रिय तो नेहमीच; रात्रीही जे येत, त्यांना तो आश्रय देत असे.

Word by Word

• mṛdu-svabhāvaḥ: gentle-natured
• mṛdu-svabhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛdu (प्रातिपदिक) + svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘mṛduḥ svabhāvaḥ yasya/saḥ’; Pumān, Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective-noun used adjectivally

• sat-vṛttaḥ: of good conduct
• sat-vṛttaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya; Pumān, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• veda-vedāṅga-pāragaḥ: versed in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas
• veda-vedāṅga-pāragaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vedāṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + pāraga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (समाहार/षष्ठी-भाव) ‘vedānāṃ vedāṅgānāṃ ca pāragaḥ’; Pumān, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• sat-ātithi-priyaḥ: fond of (welcoming) guests
• sat-ātithi-priyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + ātithi (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘ātithīnām priyaḥ’ with ‘sat’ as qualifier; Pumān, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• rātrau: at night
• rātrau: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana (locative)

• āgatānām: of those who arrived
• āgatānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgata (कृदन्त; √gam गत्यर्थे with ā-)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त) used adjectivally; Pumān, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; ‘of those who had come’

• samāśrayaḥ: a refuge/shelter
• samāśrayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samāśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumān, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate noun

Speakers

• Mārkaṇḍeya narrating to Krauṣṭuki

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Hospitality (ātithi-dharma)
• Vedic learning

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Ātithi-dharma is highlighted: receiving guests—even at inconvenient times—is a hallmark of righteousness. Learning (śruti/vedāṅga) is paired with conduct, implying knowledge without virtue is incomplete.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Though embedded in 'Manvantara' narration, this verse expresses dharma-teaching typical of Purāṇic 'vaṃśānucarita' episodes where exemplary lives illustrate norms.

What is the esoteric significance?

Hospitality symbolizes openness of the heart-mind: welcoming the 'unexpected guest' mirrors welcoming truth when it arrives outside one’s planned routine.