Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच श्रुत्वैतद्‌ देवदेवस्य वाक्‍्यं हृष्टतनूरुहा: । ततस्ते विबुधा: सर्वे ब्रह्मा ते च महर्षय:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca

śrutvaitad devadevasya vākyaṃ hṛṣṭa-tanūruhāḥ |

tatas te vibudhāḥ sarve brahmā te ca maharṣayaḥ ||

Translation

毗舍波耶那说道：听闻众神之神那罗延的此言，他们欢喜得遍体战栗，毛发皆竖。于是诸天众与梵天及诸大圣仙，依吠陀仪轨举行毗湿奴祭；在那祭中，梵天亲自为主宰划定一份专属供分。

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• देवदेवस्य: of the god of gods
• देवदेवस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदेव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वाक्यम्: speech; statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• हृष्टतनूरुहाः: whose body-hairs stood thrilled (with joy)
• हृष्टतनूरुहाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट-तनूरुह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विबुधाः: gods; wise beings
• विबुधाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (ब्रह्मा)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• महर्षयः: great sages
• महर्षयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Nārāyaṇa (Devadeva)
• Vibudhāḥ (gods)
• Brahmā
• Maharṣayaḥ (great seers)
• Vaiṣṇava-yajña (Vaiṣṇava sacrifice)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that when the Supreme is acknowledged, the proper response is reverent alignment—joyful assent expressed through Veda-guided action. Ethically, it affirms honoring rightful authority and sustaining cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) through disciplined, non-arbitrary practice.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing the proclamation of the supreme deity (Nārāyaṇa), the gods, Brahmā, and the great seers are overwhelmed with devotional exhilaration and proceed to conduct a Vaiṣṇava sacrifice according to Vedic injunctions, with Brahmā assigning an offering-share specifically for the Lord.