Shloka 7

Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)

Devanagari script

जनमेजय उवाच इमे सब्रह्मका लोका: ससुरासुरमानवा: । क्रियास्वभ्युदयोक्तासु सक्ता दृश्यन्ति सर्वश:,जनमेजय बोले--मुने! ब्रह्मा, देवगण, असुरगण तथा मनुष्योंसहित ये समस्त लोक लौकिक अभ्युदयके लिये बताये गये कर्मोमें ही आसक्त देखे जाते हैं

Transliteration

janamejaya uvāca ime sabrahmakā lokāḥ sasurāsuramānavāḥ | kriyāsv abhyudayoktāsu saktā dṛśyante sarvaśaḥ ||

Translation

ஜனமேஜயன் கூறினான்—ஓ முனிவரே! பிரம்மாவுடன் கூடிய இவ்வுலகங்கள் அனைத்தும், தேவர்-அசுரர்-மனிதர் உட்பட, எங்கும் உலகியலான உயர்வுக்காக விதிக்கப்பட்ட கர்மங்களிலேயே பற்றுடன் காணப்படுகின்றன.

Word by Word

जनमेजयःJanamejaya

उवाचsaid

इमेthese

सब्रह्मकाःtogether with Brahmā

लोकाःworlds/realms

ससुरासुरमानवाःwith gods, asuras, and humans

क्रियासुin actions/rites

अभ्युदयोक्तासुprescribed for worldly prosperity

सक्ताःattached/engaged

दृश्यन्तिare seen/appear

सर्वशःeverywhere/in every way

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Janamejaya

Brahmā

Devas (Suras)

Asuras

Humans (Mānavas)

Lokas (worlds/realms)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a universal tendency: beings across all realms—even exalted ones—become attached to actions aimed at abhyudaya (worldly success and uplift). It sets up an ethical inquiry into whether such prosperity-oriented action is sufficient, or whether a higher aim (niḥśreyasa/liberation) and detachment should guide dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Janamejaya addresses the sage with an observation and implicit doubt: he sees that everyone, from Brahmā down to humans, is engrossed in prescribed works meant for worldly advancement. This functions as a question-starter, inviting the teacher to explain the limits of prosperity-driven karma and the path beyond mere abhyudaya.