Shloka 14

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

अभ्यवादयत प्रीत्या विनयावनतस्तदा । तदर्हमासनं तस्मै सम्प्रदाय यथाविधि

Transliteration

abhyavādayat prītyā vinayāvanatas tadā | tad-arham āsanaṃ tasmai sampradāya yathāvidhi ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：于是他以谦恭与礼敬俯身致意，满怀亲爱地迎接来者。又依正当仪则奉上与其尊位相称的座席，按古礼恭敬款待这位天界圣仙，以周全的宾礼相迎相侍，由虔敬的接待与奉事来护持正法（dharma）。

Word by Word

• अभ्यवादयत्: saluted / greeted
• अभ्यवादयत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√वद्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• विनय-अवनतः: bowed down in humility
• विनय-अवनतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय + अवनत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• तत्-अर्हम्: worthy of him / befitting him
• तत्-अर्हम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + अर्ह
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

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

• सम्प्रदाय: having given / after offering
• सम्प्रदाय: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-√दा
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• यथा-विधि: according to rule
• यथा-विधि: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + विधि

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Nārada
• āsana (seat of honor)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed as proper hospitality (atithi-satkāra): greeting with affection, humility, and offering an appropriate seat and honors according to established custom—showing that ethical kingship includes reverence toward sages and disciplined conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

As narrated by Vaiśampāyana, Yudhiṣṭhira (with humility) respectfully greets the arriving revered guest (the sage Nārada) and offers him a suitable seat and due honors in accordance with prescribed etiquette.