Shloka 94

Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)

Devanagari script

विरिज्च इति यत्‌ प्रोक्ते कापिलज्ञानचिन्तकै: । स प्रजापतिरेवाहं चेतनात्‌ सर्वलोककृत्‌

Transliteration

viriñca iti yat prokte kāpila-jñāna-cintakaiḥ | sa prajāpatiḥ evāhaṃ cetanāt sarva-loka-kṛt ||

Translation

विरिञ्च इति यत् प्रोक्ते कापिलज्ञानचिन्तकैः । स प्रजापतिरेवाहं चेतनात् सर्वलोककृत् ॥

Word by Word

• {'viriñcaḥ': 'Viriñca

• a name associated with Prajāpati/Brahmā, the cosmic progenitor', 'iti': 'thus

• as (so) called', 'yat': 'which

• that which', 'proktam/prokte': 'said

• referred to', 'kāpila': 'of Kapila

• pertaining to Kapila’s tradition (Sāṅkhya)', 'jñāna': 'knowledge

• insight', 'cintakaḥ (cintakaiḥ)': 'thinker

• one who reflects (instrumental plural: by the thinkers)', 'saḥ': 'he

• that one', 'prajāpatiḥ': 'Prajāpati

• progenitor', 'eva': 'indeed

• precisely', 'aham': 'I', 'cetanā': 'consciousness

• awareness', 'sarva': 'all', 'loka': 'world

• beings’ domain', 'kṛt': 'maker

Speaker

तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Viriñca
• Prajāpati
• Kapila
• Sāṅkhya (Kapila’s teaching)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes that ultimate status is not merely a matter of labels used in philosophical discourse; it is grounded in the sustaining principle of consciousness. Indra asserts identity with the cosmic progenitor (Viriñca/Prajāpati) by claiming the role of conferring sentience, highlighting a link between metaphysical authority and the capacity to animate and uphold life.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shānti Parva’s didactic setting, Indra speaks in a revelatory tone, identifying himself with the figure called “Viriñca” by Sāṅkhya-oriented thinkers associated with Kapila. The statement functions as a theological clarification within a broader instruction about cosmic order and the principles behind creation and life.