Shloka 18

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

Sanskrit

प्राच्यां शक्राय याम्यायां यमाय बलिमाहरेत् ।

प्रतीच्यां वरुणायाथ सोमायोत्तरतो बलिम् ॥

Transliteration

prācyāṃ śakrāya yāmyāyāṃ yamāya balim āharet | pratīcyāṃ varuṇāyātha somāyottarato balim ||

Translation

తూర్పు దిశలో శక్రుడు (ఇంద్రుడు) కోసం బలిని ఉంచవలెను, దక్షిణంలో యముని కోసం; పడమటలో వరుణుని కోసం, మరియు ఉత్తరంలో సోముని కోసం బలిని సమర్పించవలెను।

Word by Word

prācyāmin the east

śakrāyato Śakra (Indra)

yāmyāyāmin the south

yamāyato Yama

balimoffering (bali)

āharetshould offer / should bring

pratīcyāmin the west

varuṇāyato Varuṇa

athathen / and next

somāyato Soma

uttarataḥto the north

balimoffering (bali)

Speakers

Instructional dialogue (elder to disciple/‘son’)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

Indra (Śakra)YamaVaruṇaSoma

Key Themes

DharmaDirectional deities (dikpāla-like mapping)Bali offeringsHouseholder ritual order

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is practiced as orderly recognition of powers governing the world—rain, law/death, waters, and nourishment—by giving each its due share.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Dharma-upadeśa (ritual conduct), not cosmology or genealogy proper.

What is the esoteric significance?

The directions become a mandala of governance: aligning offerings with dik and deity symbolizes aligning one’s life with cosmic regulation (ṛta/dharma).