Varaha Purana 11.4: Adhyaya 11, Shloka 4

Hospitality at Gauramukha’s Hermitage and the Power of the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel

Devanagari script

स्वागतातिक्रियाः कृत्वा कथान्ते तं महामुनिः । स्वशक्त्या अहं नृपश्रेष्ठ सानुगस्य च भोजनम् ॥ ११.४ ॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 11.4

Transliteration

svāgatādikriyāḥ kṛtvā kathānte taṃ mahāmuniḥ | svaśaktyā ahaṃ nṛpaśreṣṭha sānugasya ca bhojanam || 11.4 ||

Translation

ครั้นประกอบพิธีต้อนรับตามธรรมเนียมแล้ว เมื่อจบถ้อยสนทนา มหาฤๅษีกล่าวว่า “ข้าแต่มหาราชผู้ประเสริฐ ตามกำลังของเรา จักจัดภัตตาหารให้ท่านพร้อมทั้งบริวาร”

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Word by Word

• svāgata-ādi-kriyāḥ: welcome and other rites
• svāgata-ādi-kriyāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāgata + ādi + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘svāgata-ādīnāṃ kriyāḥ’ (welcome etc. rites)

• kṛtvā: having performed
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive) — ‘having done’

• kathā-ante: at the end of the conversation
• kathā-ante: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘कथायाः अन्ते’

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• mahā-muniḥ: the great sage
• mahā-muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महान् मुनिः’

• sva-śaktyā: by (my) own ability
• sva-śaktyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘स्वस्य शक्त्या’

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• nṛpa-śreṣṭha: O best of kings
• nṛpa-śreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘नृपाणां श्रेष्ठः’

• sa-anugasya: of (you) together with attendants
• sa-anugasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/सहित, उपसर्गवत्) + anuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; ‘सहित’ अर्थे—‘अनुगैः सहितस्य’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—समुच्चय (conjunction ‘and’)

• bhojanam: meal; feeding
• bhojanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework; speaker not explicit in fragment)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Dharma Literature
• Hospitality Ethics
• Purāṇic Narrative

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a common Purāṇic and dharma-literary social ideal: formal hospitality toward guests, framed as a culturally valued practice of etiquette and ethical conduct.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse fragment; it focuses on interpersonal protocol rather than sacred geography.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse highlights hospitality and proportional giving—offering food and care “according to one’s capacity” (svaśaktyā), including consideration for a guest’s attendants.