Shloka 26

Adhyaya 29 — Alarka’s Inquiry and Madalasa’s Teaching on Householder Dharma (Gārhasthya), Vaiśvadeva, and Atithi Hospitality

Sanskrit

सम्पूजयेद्यथाशक्ति गन्धपुष्पादिभिस्तथा ।

न मित्रमतिथिं कुर्यान्नैकग्रामनिवासिनम् ॥

Transliteration

sampūjayed yathāśakti gandhapuṣpādibhis tathā / na mitram atithiṃ kuryān naikagrāmanivāsinam

Translation

ଯଥାଶକ୍ତି ଗନ୍ଧ, ପୁଷ୍ପ ଇତ୍ୟାଦି ଦେଇ ତାଙ୍କୁ ପୂଜା-ସତ୍କାର କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ମିତ୍ରକୁ ‘ଅତିଥି’ ବୋଲି ଧରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ, ନ ଏକେ ଗ୍ରାମରେ ବସୁଥିବାକୁ।

Word by Word

• sampūjayet: should honor/worship
• sampūjayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√pūj (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yathā-śakti: according to one’s capacity
• yathā-śakti: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/ manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound functioning as adverb (क्रियाविशेषण): 'according to ability'

• gandha-puṣpa-ādibhiḥ: with perfumes, flowers, etc.
• gandha-puṣpa-ādibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); ādi-tatpuruṣa: 'with perfumes, flowers, etc.'

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (क्रियाविशेषण/निपात)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• mitram: a friend
• mitram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• atithim: a guest
• atithim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kuryāt: should make/consider
• kuryāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• eka-grāma-nivāsinam: one who lives in the same village
• eka-grāma-nivāsinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + grāma (प्रातिपदिक) + nivāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'resident of one village' (ekagrāma = one village; nivāsin = dweller)

Speakers

• Not in Devi Māhātmyam; dharma-teaching context.

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Hospitality norms
• Social definitions in dharma literature

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Atithi-dharma targets the vulnerable stranger, not one’s familiar circle. The instruction prevents hospitality from becoming a selective social performance.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/Dharma guidance; it standardizes ethical obligation in daily life.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘unknown other’ tests non-attachment and generosity; honoring the stranger is a ritualized breaking of self-centered boundaries.