Shloka 4

Devanagari script

ते सर्वे समतिक्रम्य विप्रमभ्यर्च्य चासकृत्‌ । ऊचुर्वाक्यमसंदिग्धमातिथेयस्य बान्धवा:

Transliteration

te sarve samatikramya vipram abhyarcya cāsakṛt | ūcur vākyam asaṃdigdham ātitheyasya bāndhavāḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说：他们众人上前，那些以敬客著称的主人亲族，恭恭敬敬地一再礼拜供奉那位婆罗门。随后，他们以毫无疑惑、毫无虚伪的言辞向他陈述，示范了这样的伦理理想：迎接宾客，当以明白、敬重与真诚之心。

Word by Word

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

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

• समतिक्रम्य: having approached/going up to (lit. having gone beyond/overstepped to)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अति + क्रम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• विप्रम्: the brahmin
• विप्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped/honoured
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

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

• असकृत्: again and again, repeatedly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असकृत्

• ऊचुः: they said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

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

• असंदिग्धम्: unambiguous, doubtless
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंदिग्ध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आतिथेयस्य: of the host (one who offers hospitality)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतिथेय
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• बान्धवाः: kinsmen/relatives
• बान्धवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• brahmin (vipra)
• kinsmen/relatives of the host (ātitheyasya bāndhavāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights atithi-dharma: honoring a guest—especially a learned brahmin—with repeated reverence and speaking to him with clear, truthful, and unambiguous words, reflecting sincerity and ethical integrity.

What is happening in the narrative?

The host’s relatives approach a brahmin, repeatedly honor him, and then address him with a definite, doubt-free statement, setting a tone of respectful hospitality and straightforward communication.