Shloka 51
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
“आप मेरे पूजनीय अतिथि हैं। यह घर आपका ही है। आप निस्संकोच भावसे शीघ्र ही सभी कार्योके लिये हमें आज्ञा दें। हम आपके वशवर्ती किंकर हैं” ।। अथ वैश्रवण् प्रीतो भगवान् प्रत्यभाषत । अर्चितोडस्मि यथान्यायं गमिष्यामि धनेश्वर,तब अत्यन्त प्रसन्न हुए भगवान् अष्टावक्रने कुबेरसे कहा--“धनेश्वर! आपने यथोचित रूपसे मेरा सत्कार किया है। अब आज्ञा दें, मैं यहाँसे जाऊँगा
bhīṣma uvāca— “āpa mere pūjanīya atithi haiṃ. yaha ghara āpakā hī hai. āpa niḥsaṅkoca bhāva se śīghra hī sabhī kāryoṃ ke liye hameṃ ājñā deṃ. hama āpake vaśavartī kiṅkara haiṃ.” atha vaiśravaṇaḥ prīto bhagavān pratyabhāṣata— “arcito ’smi yathānyāyaṃ; gamiṣyāmi dhaneśvara.” tataḥ atyantaṃ prasannaḥ bhagavān aṣṭāvakraḥ kuberam uvāca— “dhaneśvara! tvayā yathocita-rūpeṇa mama satkāraḥ kṛtaḥ. idānīṃ ājñāṃ dehi; ahaṃ iha-sthānāt gamiṣyāmi.”
Bhishma disse: “Tu és meu hóspede venerável. Esta casa é verdadeiramente tua. Sem hesitação, ordena-nos depressa em todos os assuntos. Somos teus servos obedientes.” Então Vaishravana (Kubera), satisfeito, respondeu: “Fui honrado segundo o costume devido, ó Senhor das riquezas; partirei.” Em seguida, o venerável Aṣṭāvakra, grandemente jubiloso, disse a Kubera: “Ó Senhor dos tesouros, recebeste-me com o respeito apropriado. Concede-me agora licença; partirei daqui.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharma of atithi-satkāra: a guest is to be treated with reverence, offered full hospitality, and given respectful leave. Proper conduct (yathānyāya/yathocita) and humility in service are presented as ethical ideals.
A host addresses a revered guest with deference, offering the home and readiness to serve. Kubera (Vaishravana), pleased with the proper reception, says he will depart; Ashtavakra, satisfied with the honor shown, asks for permission to leave.