Shloka 13

Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path

Ethics of Non-attachment

Devanagari script

समूलफल;भि क्षाभिरचेंदतिथिमागतम्‌ | यद्‌ भक्ष्यं स्थात्‌ ततो दद्याद भिक्षां नित्यमतन्द्रित:

Transliteration

samūla-phalabhiḥ bhikṣābhir acendatithim āgatam | yad bhakṣyaṃ syāt tato dadyād bhikṣāṃ nityam atandritaḥ ||

Translation

风神说：“若有不期之客到来，当以根茎果实之施舍而敬待之。切不可懈怠。此刻手边有何食物，便当从那同一份中，常常分与宾客其应得之分。”

Word by Word

• समूलफलभिक्षाभिः: with alms consisting of roots and fruits
• समूलफलभिक्षाभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समूलफल-भिक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• अर्चेत्: should honor / should worship
• अर्चेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अतिथिम्: a guest
• अतिथिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आगतम्: arrived
• आगतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• भक्ष्यम्: food / something edible
• भक्ष्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• स्यात्: may be / should be
• स्यात्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: from that / from it
• ततः: Apadana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भिक्षाम्: alms / a portion given (to a guest)
• भिक्षाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

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

• अतन्द्रितः: unlazy / vigilant
• अतन्द्रितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• atithi (guest)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches atithi-dharma: one should diligently honor even an unexpected guest by sharing whatever food is presently available, without laziness or delay.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is instructing proper conduct, emphasizing hospitality and charitable giving—especially the duty to offer food to a guest who arrives unannounced.