Shloka 18

Nakula’s Counsel on Yajña, Dāna, and Tyāga (नकुलोपदेशः—यज्ञदानत्यागविचारः)

Devanagari script

पितृदेवातिथिकृते समारम्भो5त्र शस्यते । अत्रैव हि महाराज त्रिवर्ग: केवलं फलम्‌

Transliteration

pitṛdevātithikṛte samārambho 'tra śasyate | atraiva hi mahārāja trivargaḥ kevalaṁ phalam ||

Translation

那俱罗说道：在居士之道中，为祖灵、诸天与来宾而兴办供奉之事，尤为称许。因为正是在此处，陛下，人生三义——达摩（正法与本分）、阿尔塔（资财与安乐）、迦摩（正当之欲乐）——才得以真实而圆满地结成果报。

Word by Word

• पितृदेवातिथिकृते: for (the sake of) fathers/manes, gods, and guests
• पितृदेवातिथिकृते: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-देव-अतिथि
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• समारम्भः: undertaking; ceremonial preparation/arrangement
• समारम्भः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: समारम्भ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अत्र: here (in this ashrama/context)
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• शस्यते: is praised; is commended
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस्
• Form: Present, Passive, Third, Singular

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• एव: indeed; only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• हि: for; indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• त्रिवर्गः: the triad (dharma, artha, kama)
• त्रिवर्गः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिवर्ग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• केवलम्: only; exclusively
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल

• फलम्: fruit; result
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नकुल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nakula
• Mahārāja (the king addressed)
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Devas (gods)
• Atithis (guests)
• Gṛhastha-āśrama (householder stage)
• Trivarga (dharma-artha-kāma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the householder’s life is the primary arena for fulfilling social and sacred obligations—honoring gods, ancestors, and guests—and that this āśrama uniquely enables the balanced attainment of dharma, artha, and kāma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nakula addresses a king and argues for the excellence of the gṛhastha-āśrama, emphasizing that organized duties such as worship, ancestral offerings, and hospitality are especially appropriate and fruitful in household life.