Shloka 10

Adhyaya 29 — Alarka’s Inquiry and Madalasa’s Teaching on Householder Dharma (Gārhasthya), Vaiśvadeva, and Atithi Hospitality

Sanskrit

स्वाहाकारं स्तनं देवाः पितरश्च स्वधामयम् ।

मुनयश्च वषट्कारं देवभूतसुरेतराः ॥

Transliteration

svāhākāraṃ stanaṃ devāḥ pitaraś ca svadhāmayam | munayaś ca vaṣaṭkāraṃ devabhūtasuretarāḥ ||

Translation

దేవతలు స్వాహాకార అనే స్తన్యధారను త్రాగుతారు; పితృదేవతలు స్వధా-స్వరూపమైన ధారను త్రాగుతారు। ఋషులు వషట్కార ధారను త్రాగుతారు; ఇతర వర్గాలు—భూతాదులు, దేవాసురులకు భిన్నమైనవారు—కూడా యథాయోగ్యంగా పానంచేస్తారు।

Word by Word

• svāhākāram: ‘svāhā’-utterance
• svāhākāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāhākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• stanam: teat
• stanam: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• pitaraḥ: the ancestors (pitṛs)
• pitaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• svadhāmayam: consisting of ‘svadhā’
• svadhāmayam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of stanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svadhā (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रत्ययान्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); मयट्-प्रत्यय (made of/consisting of); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘स्वधामयः’ = ‘स्वधारूपः’

• munayaḥ: the sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vaṣaṭkāram: ‘vaṣaṭ’-utterance
• vaṣaṭkāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṣaṭkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• devabhūtasurā-itarāḥ: gods, beings, suras and others
• devabhūtasurā-itarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; in apposition with munayaḥ per context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + sura (प्रातिपदिक) + itara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वार्थे: ‘देवाश्च भूताश्च सुराश्च इतरे च’ (gods, beings, suras and others)

Speakers

• Instructional dialogue (elder to disciple/‘son’)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Devas
• Pitṛs
• Ṛṣis (Munis)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ritual utterances
• Tarpaṇa
• Cosmic ecology of offerings

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Different recipients are to be honored through the correct ritual ‘address’ (mantric formula). Right ordering in worship is presented as social-cosmic responsibility, not mere personal piety.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Dharma-upadeśa: practical instruction embedded in Purāṇic discourse, supporting the Purāṇa’s role as a guide for right living.

What is the esoteric significance?

The mapping of beings to utterances implies that sound (śabda) differentiates planes of existence; each class resonates with a specific sacrificial call, forming a subtle taxonomy of nourishment.