Shloka 72

Rudra-Śiva: Names, Two Natures, and the Logic of Epithets (रुद्रनाम-बहुरूपत्व-प्रकरणम्)

Devanagari script

अमानी च सदाजिद्ा: स्निग्धवाणीप्रदस्तथा । अतिथ्यभ्यागतरति: शेषान्नकृतभोजन:

Transliteration

amānī ca sadā jitendriyaḥ snigdhavāṇīpradaḥ tathā | ātithyābhyāgataratiḥ śeṣānna-kṛtabhojanaḥ ||

Translation

మహేశ్వరుడు పలికెను—అతడు గౌరవాభిలాషలేని వాడు, నిత్యము ఇంద్రియనిగ్రహము కలవాడు. అతని వాక్కు స్నిగ్ధముగా, మధురముగా, ఆదరణనిచ్చునట్లు ఉంటుంది. అతిథులను, అకస్మాత్తుగా వచ్చిన అభ్యాగతులను సంతోషముతో ఆహ్వానించును; ఇతరులకు ముందుగా వడ్డించి మిగిలినదానినే తృప్తితో భుజించును.

Word by Word

अमानीfree from pride; not self-conceited

चand

सदाalways

अजिद्रःnot deceitful; not crooked

स्निग्धवाणीप्रदःone who gives gentle/affectionate speech

तथाlikewise; also

अतिथ्याभ्यागतरतिःdelighting in hospitality to guests/arrivals

शेषान्नकृतभोजनःone who eats only after (others), from what remains

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śrīmaheśvara (Mahādeva/Śiva)

atithi (guest)

abhyāgata (unexpected visitor)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises a dharmic character marked by humility (not seeking honor), mastery over the senses, gentle and beneficial speech, and active hospitality—placing the needs of guests and others before one’s own comfort, even to the point of eating only after serving them.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrīmaheśvara is describing the qualities of an exemplary person (a dharmic householder/virtuous individual), listing observable traits—self-restraint, kind speech, love of receiving guests, and self-effacing conduct in daily meals—as markers of righteousness.