Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 68
Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
इलोपहूतयोगेन हरे भागं क्रतुष्वहम् । वर्णश्न मे हरि: श्रेष्ठस्तस्माद्धरिरहं स्मृत:
ilopahūtayogena hare bhāgaṃ kratuṣv aham | varṇaś ca me hariḥ śreṣṭhas tasmād dharir ahaṃ smṛtaḥ ||
ਯੱਗਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ‘ਇਲੋਪਹੂਤਾ…’ ਆਦਿ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਨਾਲ ਆਹਵਾਨ ਹੋਣ ਤੇ ਮੈਂ ਆਪਣਾ ਨਿਯਤ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਗ੍ਰਹਿਣ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ; ਅਤੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਦੇਹ ਦਾ ਵਰਣ ਵੀ ਹਰਿਤ-ਸ਼ਿਆਮ ਹੈ—ਇਸ ਲਈ ਮੈਨੂੰ ‘ਹਰੀ’ ਨਾਮ ਨਾਲ ਯਾਦ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ
Educational Q&A
Divine names are not arbitrary: they can arise from a deity’s ritual role (accepting the sacrificial share) and from symbolic attributes (hari-colored complexion). The verse ties reverence to dharmic ritual order and meaningful nomenclature.
Indra is explaining the basis for the epithet “Hari,” stating that when invoked by a specific sacrificial formula he receives his portion, and that his own color is hari; hence he is remembered by that name.