Shloka 22

वसिष्ठ-आतिथ्यं

Vasiṣṭha’s Hospitality to Viśvāmitra and the Summoning of Śabalā/Kāmadhenu

Devanagari script

यस्य यस्य यथाकामं षड्रसेष्वभिपूजितम्।तत्सर्वं कामधुक्क्षिप्रमभिवर्ष कृते मम।।।।

Transliteration

yasya yasya yathākāmaṃ ṣaḍraseṣv abhipūjitam |

tat sarvaṃ kāmadhuk kṣipram abhivarṣa kṛte mama ||

Translation

“噢，甘露牛（迦摩陀奴）啊，为我速速赐出众人各随所愿之物，并以六味具足之美馔加以礼敬。”

Word by Word

• yasya: of whom(soever)
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual) सर्वनाम

• yasya: of whoever (each one)
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम; पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः (repetition for distributive sense)

• yathā-kāmam: according to desire
• yathā-kāmam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (indeclinable adverbial) = ‘as desired’

• ṣaṭ-raseṣu: among the six tastes
• ṣaṭ-raseṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; ‘षड्रस’ (six tastes) इति समाहार; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (rasaḥ)

• abhipūjitam: requested/desired and duly honoured
• abhipūjitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√pūj (पूज् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; ‘honoured/desired’ (context: ‘asked-for and duly requested’)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग सर्वनाम

• sarvam: all (of it)
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• kāmadhuk: O Kāmadhenu
• kāmadhuk: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāmadhenu/kāmadhuk (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-प्रयोग (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक ‘कāmadhuk’ (wish-fulfilling cow)

• kṣipram: quickly
• kṣipram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• abhivarṣa: shower forth / grant
• abhivarṣa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√vṛṣ (वृष् धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; आज्ञार्थः

• kṛte: for the sake (of)
• kṛte: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛta (कृत् धातु-निष्पन्न; कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘कृते’ = ‘for the sake of’ (हेतौ/प्रयोजने)

• mama: of me / for me
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Context

Foremost among kings, the brilliant Viswamitra, having received hospitality from Vasishta, enquired about his welbeing his austerities, his firesacrifices, his disciples and trees (in his hermitage). Vasishta, too, informed him of the welfare of all.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Kāmadhenu (Śabalā)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma as attentive care: true hospitality considers individual needs and provides fitting abundance without neglect.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha specifies the standard of the feast—varied, complete, and tailored to each guest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Thoughtful generosity—Vasiṣṭha’s concern is not minimal offering but complete satisfaction of the guest.