Shloka 41

धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्

Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct

Devanagari script

सर्वातिथ्यं त्रिवर्गस्य कुर्वाण: सुमना: सदा । शूद्राणां चान्नकामानां नित्यं सिद्धमिति ब्रुवन्‌

Transliteration

sarvātithyaṁ trivargasya kurvāṇaḥ sumanāḥ sadā | śūdrāṇāṁ cānna-kāmānāṁ nityaṁ siddham iti bruvan ||

Translation

摩诃提婆说道：“刹帝利当常怀欢悦之心，不断行普遍的待客之道；并在此之中，依其分寸追求人生三义——达摩（dharma）、阿尔塔（artha）与迦摩（kāma）。若有欲求食物的首陀罗前来乞求，他应恒常答曰：‘已为你们备好。’随即邀其就食，不使迟延。”

Word by Word

• सर्वातिथ्यम्: hospitality to all (guests)
• सर्वातिथ्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वातिथ्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिवर्गस्य: of the three aims (dharma-artha-kāma)
• त्रिवर्गस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिवर्ग
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• कुर्वाणः: doing, performing
• कुर्वाणः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)

• सुमनाः: good-minded, cheerful
• सुमनाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमनस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• शूद्राणाम्: of/for the Śūdras
• शूद्राणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

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

• अन्नकामानाम्: of those desiring food
• अन्नकामानाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्नकाम
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• नित्यम्: always, regularly
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• सिद्धम्: ready, prepared
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• ब्रुवन्: saying
• ब्रुवन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Mahēśvara (Mahādeva/Śiva)
• kṣatriya
• śūdra
• anna (food)
• trivarga (dharma-artha-kāma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A kṣatriya’s righteous conduct includes universal hospitality and prompt generosity—especially feeding those who ask for food—while pursuing the three aims of life (dharma, artha, kāma) in a disciplined, ethical way.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mahādeva is instructing on kṣatriya-dharma: the ruler/warrior should maintain a welcoming household and respond to requests for food—particularly from śūdras seeking sustenance—by assuring them that food is ready and inviting them to eat.