Shloka 4

Devanagari script

ते सर्वे समतिक्रम्य विप्रमभ्यर्च्य चासकृत्‌ । ऊचुर्वाक्यमसंदिग्धमातिथेयस्य बान्धवा:,अतिथि-सत्कारके लिये प्रसिद्ध हुए नागराजके सब भाई-बन्धु ब्राह्मणके पास जा उसकी बारंबार पूजा करके संदेहरहित वाणीमें बोले--

Transliteration

te sarve samatikramya vipram abhyarcya cāsakṛt | ūcur vākyam asaṃdigdham ātitheyasya bāndhavāḥ ||

Translation

وہ سب اس کے پاس گئے اور اس برہمن کی بار بار تعظیم و پوجا کرکے، شک و فریب سے پاک کلام میں بولے—

Word by Word

तेthey/those

सर्वेall

समतिक्रम्यhaving approached/going up to (lit. having gone beyond/overstepped to)

विप्रम्the brahmin

अभ्यर्च्यhaving worshipped/honoured

चand

असकृत्again and again, repeatedly

ऊचुःthey said

वाक्यम्a speech/statement

असंदिग्धम्unambiguous, doubtless

आतिथेयस्यof the host (one who offers hospitality)

बान्धवाःkinsmen/relatives

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

brahmin (vipra)

kinsmen/relatives of the host (ātitheyasya bāndhavāḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights atithi-dharma: honoring a guest—especially a learned brahmin—with repeated reverence and speaking to him with clear, truthful, and unambiguous words, reflecting sincerity and ethical integrity.

What is happening in the narrative?

The host’s relatives approach a brahmin, repeatedly honor him, and then address him with a definite, doubt-free statement, setting a tone of respectful hospitality and straightforward communication.