Shloka 7

Dharma of the Renunciant: Alms Discipline, Meditation, and Expiations

Devanagari script

चत्वारि यतिपात्राणि मनुराह प्रजापतिः । प्राग्रात्रे मध्यरात्रे च पररात्रे तथैव च

Transliteration

catvāri yatipātrāṇi manurāha prajāpatiḥ | prāgrātre madhyarātre ca pararātre tathaiva ca

Translation

พระปรชาบดีมนูกล่าวว่า สำหรับยติผู้บำเพ็ญเพียร มีเวลารับบิณฑบาตสี่คราว คือ ในยามต้นแห่งราตรี ในยามเที่ยงคืน ในยามปลายราตรี และเช่นเดียวกันในกาลอันสมควรที่เหลือ

Word by Word

• catvāri: four
• catvāri: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catvāri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (qualifying pātrāṇi)

• yati-pātrāṇi: ascetic’s vessels
• yati-pātrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yati (प्रातिपदिक) + pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (‘यतेः पात्राणि’)

• manuḥ: Manu
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati
• prajāpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā-pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (‘प्रजानां पतिः’)

• prāk-rātre: in the early night
• prāk-rātre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāk (अव्यय) + rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (‘प्राक् रात्रौ’ = in the early part of night)

• madhya-rātre: at midnight
• madhya-rātre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक) + rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (‘रात्रेः मध्यभागे’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• para-rātre: in the later night
• para-rātre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (‘रात्रेः परभागे’ = later part of night)

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha/Adverb (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थ (also/likewise)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

Speaker

Narrator citing Prajāpati Manu (as the authority for the rule)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: manurāha → manuḥ + āha. prāgrātre → prāk-rātre. tathaiva → tathā + eva.

Characters & Entities

• Manu
• Prajapati

FAQs

What practice is this verse prescribing for a yati (ascetic)?

It outlines regulated occasions (pātra/fit times) connected with the night for when an ascetic may accept food/alms, emphasizing discipline rather than unrestricted eating.

Why is Manu called Prajāpati here?

The verse treats Manu as a law-giving progenitor figure—an authoritative “lord of creatures” whose statements establish dharma norms.

What ethical lesson does the verse convey?

Self-restraint: even basic needs like food are to be governed by rule, timing, and moderation—hallmarks of ascetic conduct.