Shloka 873

Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)

Devanagari script

कथं कर्तव्यमस्माभिर्भगवंस्तद्‌ वदस्व न: । तब देवताओं और देवर्षियोंने उपर्युक्त बात कहनेवाले गुरुस्वरूप भगवान्‌से कहा --“भगवन्‌! जब कलियुगमें जहाँ-कहीं भी धर्मका एक ही चरण अवशिष्ट रहेगा

Transliteration

kathaṁ kartavyam asmābhir bhagavaṁs tad vadasva naḥ |

Translation

“ଭଗବନ୍, ଆମେ କ’ଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ—ତାହା ଆମକୁ କହନ୍ତୁ।” ତେବେ ଦେବତାମାନେ ଓ ଦେବର୍ଷିମାନେ, ଉପରୋକ୍ତ କଥା କହିଥିବା ଗୁରୁସ୍ୱରୂପ ଭଗବାନଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ—“ଭଗବନ୍! କଲିଯୁଗରେ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଜଗତରେ ଯେଉଁଠି-ସେଉଁଠି ଧର୍ମର କେବଳ ଗୋଟିଏ ପାଦ ଅବଶିଷ୍ଟ ରହିବ, ସେତେବେଳେ ଆମେ କ’ଣ କରିବାକୁ ପଡ଼ିବ? ଏହା କହନ୍ତୁ।”

Word by Word

• कथम्: how?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done; what should be done
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तव्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अस्माभिः: by us
• अस्माभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Instrumental, Plural

• भगवन्: O Lord; O Blessed one
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वदस्व: tell; speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नः: to us
• नः: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Dative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhagavān (guru-like Lord addressed)
• Kali-yuga
• Dharma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical inquiry: when righteousness declines drastically in Kali-yuga, one should seek clear guidance on one’s duty (kartavya) from a legitimate spiritual authority, emphasizing deliberate, dharma-centered action even amid moral decay.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator reports that the assembled questioners address a revered, guru-like Lord and ask for instruction—specifically, what they should do when Kali-yuga arrives and dharma survives only in a minimal fraction.