Shloka 36

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

Sanskrit

अग्रं चतुर्गुणं प्राहुर्हन्तकारं द्विजोत्तमाः ।

भोजनं हन्तकारं वा अग्रं भिक्षामथापि वा ॥

Transliteration

agraṃ caturguṇaṃ prāhur hantakāraṃ dvijottamāḥ / bhojanaṃ hantakāraṃ vā agraṃ bhikṣām athāpi vā

Translation

最上等的二次生者宣说：“第一份”（agra）为四重，并称之为“hantakāra”。或又有人把整顿饭食称作“hantakāra”，同样也以此名指第一份，乃至施舍之物。

Word by Word

• अग्रं: the first portion
• अग्रं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चतुर्गुणम्: fourfold
• चतुर्गुणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्-गुण (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: चतुर् + गुण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (अग्र-विशेषण)

• प्राहुः: they have declared
• प्राहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• हन्तकारम्: (called) ‘hantakāra’
• हन्तकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हन्तकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (विशेष-संज्ञा)

• द्विजोत्तमाः: the best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजोत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: द्विज + उत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भोजनम्: a meal/feeding
• भोजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हन्तकारम्: ‘hantakāra’
• हन्तकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हन्तकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (or)

• अग्रं: the first portion
• अग्रं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/प्रारम्भ-अव्यय (then/now)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ-अव्यय (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (or)

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction voice within the Markandeya Purana’s didactic section

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ritual vocabulary
• Alms and first portion
• Household ritual precision

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is not only intention but also disciplined practice; the verse preserves technical conventions so that giving and offering are done with clarity and consistency.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma-ritual detail; outside pancalakṣaṇa proper.

What is the esoteric significance?

Naming and measuring the ‘first share’ sacralizes the threshold between possession and generosity—turning the act of eating into a controlled rite rather than impulse.