Shloka 52

Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu

Gṛhastha-Vrata

Devanagari script

आसन चैव पाद्यं च तस्मै दत्त्वा द्विजातये | प्रोवाचौघवती विप्रं केनार्थ: कि ददामि ते

Transliteration

āsanaṃ caiva pādyaṃ ca tasmai dattvā dvijātaye | provācaughavatī vipraṃ kenārthaḥ kiṃ dadāmi te ||

Translation

奥伽伐蒂先为那位“二次生”的婆罗门奉上坐席，又献上洗足之水，随后对这位博学者说道：“尊贵的婆罗门啊，您需要什么？我当以何物奉献，以尽侍奉之礼？”

Word by Word

• आसनम्: a seat
• आसनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• पाद्यम्: water for washing the feet (pādya)
• पाद्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• दत्त्वा: having given
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (ददाति)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• द्विजातये: to the twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विजातये: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• प्रोवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ओघवती: Oghavatī (proper name)
• ओघवती: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओघवती
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• विप्रम्: the brahmin
• विप्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• केन: by what?/with what?
• केन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अर्थः: need/purpose
• अर्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ददामि: I give
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (ददाति)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Oghavatī
• vipra (Brahmin guest)
• āsana (seat)
• pādyam (water for washing feet)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches atithi-dharma: a guest—especially a learned Brahmin—is to be honored with respectful reception (seat and foot-water) and then asked sincerely what they need, so that one’s giving is purposeful and service-oriented rather than merely formal.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s narration, Oghavatī receives a Brahmin guest properly by offering him a seat and water to wash his feet, and then asks him what he requires and what gift she may present.