Shloka 50

Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)

Devanagari script

विज्ञातं वो मया कार्य तच्च लोकहितं महत्‌ । प्रवृत्तियुक्त कर्तव्यं युष्मत्प्राणोपबृंहणम्‌

Transliteration

vijñātaṁ vo mayā kāryaṁ tac ca lokahitaṁ mahat | pravṛttiyuktaṁ kartavyaṁ yuṣmatprāṇopabṛṁhaṇam ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：“汝等之所求，我已洞悉；此乃为世间福祉之大善。故当承担与正当行持相应之职责；它将滋养汝等之生命气息，并增长汝等之力。”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'vijñātam', 'definition': 'known, understood, ascertained'}, {'term': 'vo', 'definition': 'to/for you (plural)'}, {'term': 'mayā', 'definition': 'by me'}, {'term': 'kāryam', 'definition': 'purpose

• intended task'}, {'term': 'tat', 'definition': 'that'}, {'term': 'ca', 'definition': 'and'}, {'term': 'lokahitam', 'definition': 'beneficial to the world

• for the welfare of people'}, {'term': 'mahat', 'definition': 'great, lofty, significant'}, {'term': 'pravṛtti-yuktam', 'definition': 'endowed with pravṛtti (active engagement)

• oriented toward responsible action'}, {'term': 'kartavyam', 'definition': 'to be done

• a duty/obligation'}, {'term': 'yuṣmat', 'definition': 'your (plural)'}, {'term': 'prāṇa', 'definition': 'life-breath

• vital force'}, {'term': 'upabṛṁhaṇam', 'definition': 'nourishing, sustaining, strengthening

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse affirms that when a purpose is truly lokahita—aimed at the welfare of the world—it should be pursued as kartavya (duty) through pravṛtti (responsible engagement in action). Such dharmic action is presented not as draining, but as sustaining and strengthening one’s prāṇa (vital force).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, reports a speaker’s recognition of the listeners’ intention and endorses it as beneficial for all. He then urges them to proceed with the appropriate duty, emphasizing its life-sustaining and empowering effect.