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

مشرق میں شکر (اندرا) کے لیے بلی رکھنی چاہیے، جنوب میں یم کے لیے؛ مغرب میں ورُن کے لیے، اور شمال میں سوم کے لیے بلی دینی چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• prācyām: in the east
• prācyām: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prācī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śakrāya: to Śakra (Indra)
• śakrāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yāmyāyām: in the south
• yāmyāyām: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāmyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yamāya: to Yama
• yamāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• balim: offering (bali)
• balim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āharet: should offer / should bring
• āharet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• pratīcyām: in the west
• pratīcyām: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratīcī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• varuṇāya: to Varuṇa
• varuṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then / and next
• atha: Krama (क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sequential particle (अनन्तर/क्रमबोधक अव्यय)

• somāya: to Soma
• somāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• uttarataḥ: to the north
• uttarataḥ: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uttarataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Directional adverb (दिक्/देशबोधक अव्यय): ‘to the north / on the northern side’

• balim: offering (bali)
• balim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Instructional dialogue (elder to disciple/‘son’)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Yama
• Varuṇa
• Soma

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Directional deities (dikpāla-like mapping)
• Bali offerings
• Householder 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).