वैशंपायन उवाच
तत्रैव न्यवसन् राजन् निहत्य बकराक्षसम् ॥
अधीयानाः परं ब्रह्म ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने ॥
ततः कतिपयाहस्य ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः ॥
प्रतिश्रयार्थं तद् वेश्म ब्राह्मणस्याजगाम ह ॥
स सम्यक् पूजयित्वा तं विद्वान् विप्रर्षभस् तदा ॥
ददौ प्रतिश्रयं तस्मै सदा सर्वातिथिव्रती ॥
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca
tatraiva nyavasan rājan nihatya bakarākṣasam ||
adhīyānāḥ paraṃ brahma brāhmaṇasya niveśane ||
tataḥ katipayāhasya brāhmaṇaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ ||
pratiśrayārthaṃ tad veśma brāhmaṇasyājagāma ha ||
sa samyak pūjayitvā taṃ vidvān viprarṣabhas tadā ||
dadau pratiśrayaṃ tasmai sadā sarvātithivratī ||
Vaishampayana said: "Having slain the rakshasa Baka, they dwelt there still, O king, studying the supreme Brahman in the house of a brahmin. After a few days a brahmin of strict vows came there seeking shelter, and the learned host, having duly honored him, gave him shelter, ever keeping his vow of hospitality to every guest."
003330dae665 · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:19:51 PM UTC
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Here two abiding dharmas show themselves — study and hospitality. It is significant that even after their feat of valor the Pandavas return to studying the 'supreme Brahman': strength does not set aside spiritual labor, and even the mightiest bends over scripture. Significant too is the host's constancy in his 'vow to every guest': he receives the stranger with honor, without asking who has come. Here it is seen that the sanctity of a household rests on two pillars — learning and hospitality: one nourishes the spirit, the other serves one's neighbor. Thus the scripture presents a model of pious living, in which knowledge of God and service to the guest alternate.