Shloka 2

Adhyaya 29 — Alarka’s Inquiry and Madalasa’s Teaching on Householder Dharma (Gārhasthya), Vaiśvadeva, and Atithi Hospitality

Sanskrit

उपकाराय यन्नृणां यच्च वर्ज्यं गृहे सताम् ।

यथा च क्रियते तन्मे यथावत् पृच्छतो वद ॥

Transliteration

upakārāya yan nṛṇāṃ yac ca varjyaṃ gṛhe satām | yathā ca kriyate tan me yathāvat pṛcchato vada ||

Translation

请如我所问而正当地告知：在家居之中，何者有益于众人，何者为贤德之士所当避，且这些事应当如何实行。

Word by Word

• उपकाराय: for benefit
• उपकाराय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative-purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the benefit)

• यत्: what
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (what/that which)

• नृणाम्: of people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• यत्: what
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• वर्ज्यम्: to be avoided
• वर्ज्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज्य (प्रातिपदिक; वर्ज्-धातोः कृत्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय/विशेषण (to be avoided)

• गृहे: in the house
• गृहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सताम्: of the virtuous
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक; अस्-धातोः शतृ/कृदन्त-प्रयोग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘सज्जन’ अर्थे (of the good)

• यथा: how
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (how/in what manner)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• क्रियते: is done
• क्रियते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप (to me/for me)

• यथावत्: properly
• यथावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (properly, in due manner)

• पृच्छतः: of (me) asking
• पृच्छतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; मम इत्यर्थे (of me who am asking)

• वद: tell/speak
• वद: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speakers

• Alarka to Madālasā

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Gārhasthya-dharma
• Ethical discernment
• Right conduct
• Service to beings

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Householder life is presented as a moral discipline requiring discernment: not everything possible at home is permissible; the virtuous distinguish what benefits others from what must be avoided.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Normative dharma instruction; not a pancalakṣaṇa segment, but a practical ethics module embedded in the Purāṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

The household is treated as a microcosm where intention and method (yathā-kriyā) matter: correct manner transforms ordinary acts into dharma, while negligence turns them into binding fault.