Shloka 99

Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)

Devanagari script

पडञ्चकल्पमथर्वाणं कृत्याभि: परिबृंहितम्‌

Transliteration

pañca-kalpam atharvāṇaṁ kṛtyābhiḥ paribṛṁhitam

Translation

Một nghi thức Atharva gồm năm phần đã được dùng—được gia cố và tăng sức bằng những hành vi kṛtyā (phù chú hại người, tà thuật).

Word by Word

• पडञ्चकल्पम्: the Paḍañca-kalpa (a specific rite/kalpa-text)
• पडञ्चकल्पम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पडञ्चकल्प
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अथर्वाणम्: Atharvan (the Atharva-veda / an Atharvan sage)
• अथर्वाणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अथर्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्याभिः: by sorceries / harmful rites (kṛtyās)
• कृत्याभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्या
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• परिबृंहितम्: augmented/strengthened; made powerful (all around)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-बृंह्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

Speaker

तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ

Characters & Entities

• Atharvan (Atharvaveda tradition)
• kṛtyā (harmful rite/sorcery)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights an ethical boundary: sacred knowledge and ritual power become adharma when used as kṛtyā—coercive or harmful magic. Strengthening such acts may increase efficacy, but it deepens moral fault and invites destructive consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

A potent Atharvanic procedure described as “fivefold” is said to be intensified through kṛtyā-practices. The narration frames this as a significant, ominous deployment of ritual power rather than a neutral religious act.