Shloka 80

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

अभ्यागतो ऽतिथिश्चाग्निः पोष्यवर्गा उदाहृतः / भरणं पोष्यवर्गस्य प्रशस्तं स्वर्गसाधनम्

Transliteration

abhyāgato 'tithiścāgniḥ poṣyavargā udāhṛtaḥ / bharaṇaṃ poṣyavargasya praśastaṃ svargasādhanam

Translation

अभ्यागतोऽतिथिश्चाग्निः पोष्यवर्गा उदाहृतः । भरणं पोष्यवर्गस्य प्रशस्तं स्वर्गसाधनम् ॥

Word by Word

• अभ्यागतः: arrived
• अभ्यागतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + आ + √गम् (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘arrived’

• अतिथिः: guest
• अतिथिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अग्निः: fire (sacred fire)
• अग्निः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पोष्यवर्गाः: those to be supported (dependents)
• पोष्यवर्गाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पोष्यवर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पोष्यः वर्गः)

• उदाहृतः: is declared
• उदाहृतः: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + आ + √हृ (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is declared/said’

• भरणम्: support/maintenance
• भरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पोष्यवर्गस्य: of the dependents
• पोष्यवर्गस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पोष्यवर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• प्रशस्तम्: praiseworthy
• प्रशस्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (भरणम्)

• स्वर्गसाधनम्: a means to heaven
• स्वर्गसाधनम्: Karta (Predicate nominative/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्गस्य साधनम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Atithi is like Agni and belongs to those to be maintained; sustaining dependents and guests is praised as a means to svarga.

Vedantic Theme: Seeing the divine in the other (Agni/Devatā-bhāva) and converting daily life into yajña; karma purified by right intention.

Application: Practice consistent hospitality; ensure food, water, and respectful reception for guests and those in need; institutionalize care in community life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.79 (those to be maintained); Garuda Purana 1.213.81 (one lives by whom many live)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Atithi (Guest)

FAQs

What is the importance of atithi-sevā (serving a guest) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse equates the arriving guest with Agni and places the guest among those who must be nourished; honoring and supporting such persons is praised as a direct source of merit leading to svarga.

How does this verse relate to karma and the afterlife outcome?

By declaring the act of sustaining the ‘poṣya-varga’ as svarga-sādhana, the verse links compassionate household duty to positive karmic results and favorable post-death destinations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat guests and dependents with reverence, offer food/water and respectful care, and prioritize consistent support of those under your responsibility as a daily dharmic practice.