Shloka 17

कālacakra-वर्णनम् तथा āśrama-धarma-निरूपणम्

The Wheel of Time and the Norms of the Āśramas

Devanagari script

देवतातिथिशिष्टाशी निरतो वेदकर्मसु । इज्याप्रदानयुक्तश्चन यथाशक्ति यथासुखम्‌

Transliteration

devatātithiśiṣṭāśī nirato vedakarmasu | ijyāpradānayuktaś ca yathāśakti yathāsukham ||

Translation

Thần Vāyu nói: “Người gia chủ chỉ nên dùng phần còn lại sau khi trước hết đã dâng cúng chư thiên (qua lễ vật) và đã đãi khách. Người ấy phải chuyên cần trong các nghi lễ do Veda truyền dạy; và tùy theo khả năng, với tâm hoan hỷ, hãy cử hành tế tự, thờ phụng và bố thí.”

Word by Word

• देवत: the deities (as recipients)
• देवत: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवत् (देवता-शब्दस्य प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• अतिथि: guests
• अतिथि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शिष्ट: left over, remaining
• शिष्ट: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिष्ट (√शास् → शिष्ट, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आशी: one who eats (i.e., he should eat)
• आशी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशिन् (√अश् + इन्; ‘eater’)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निरतः: engaged, devoted
• निरतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरत (√रम् + क्त; ‘engaged’)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वेदकर्मसु: in Vedic rites/acts
• वेदकर्मसु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदकर्मन् (वेद + कर्मन्)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• इज्या: with sacrifice/worship
• इज्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इज्या (√यज्; ‘worship/sacrifice’)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रदान: with giving (donation)
• प्रदान: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदान (√दा + ल्युट्; ‘giving’)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• युक्तः: endowed/engaged (with)
• युक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (√युज् + क्त; ‘endowed/engaged’)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• यथा: according as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• शक्ति: ability, capacity
• शक्ति: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• यथा: as, in the manner that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• सुखम्: comfort, ease (happily)
• सुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• devatā (gods)
• atithi (guest)
• gṛhastha (householder, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches the ethical discipline of the householder: prioritize offerings and hospitality (gods and guests) before personal consumption, remain steady in Vedic obligations, and practice worship and charity within one’s means and with a peaceful, contented attitude.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu (the Wind-god) is instructing on proper conduct, specifically outlining the daily dharma of a gṛhastha—how one should eat, perform Vedic rites, and balance sacrifice and giving according to capacity.