Shloka 69
Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
धाम सारो हि भूतानाम् ऋतं चैव विचारितम् । ऋतधथामा ततो विप्रै: सद्यक्चाहं प्रकीर्तित:
dhāma sāro hi bhūtānām ṛtaṃ caiva vicāritam | ṛtadhāmā tato vipraiḥ sadyak cāhaṃ prakīrtitaḥ ||
“Sa mga nilalang, ang tunay na ‘tahanan’ at pinakadiwa ay ang prinsipyo ng ṛta (kosmik na katotohanan at wastong kaayusan); ito’y masusing sinuri at pinagtibay. Kaya, O mga brāhmaṇa, ako’y wastong ipinagdiriwang bilang ‘Ṛtadhāmā’—yaong ang panahanan ay nasa ṛta.”
तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates ṛta—truth as cosmic and moral order—as the deepest ‘abode’ and essence of all beings. Ethical life and rightful authority are grounded in alignment with ṛta; hence one is praised as truly established only when rooted in that order.
The speaker asserts a title or epithet—‘Ṛtadhāmā’—claiming that learned brāhmaṇas rightly proclaim him so, because he is established in ṛta. It functions as a self-characterization that links reputation and legitimacy to adherence to truth and right order.