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Param Veda

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Śānti Veda · The Work of Just Peace

शरणागत-रक्षा

śaraṇāgata-rakṣā

Official text Sūkta 14 of 18

Mūla · Original verse

Sanskrit

भयार्तस्य परित्राणं, सर्वलोकस्य कर्तव्यम् । आश्रयं भोजनं रक्षां, दत्त्वा शान्तिं प्रवर्धयेत् ॥
bhayārtasya paritrāṇaṃ, sarva-lokasya kartavyam | āśrayaṃ bhojanaṃ rakṣāṃ, dattvā śāntiṃ pravardhayet ||
01

Anvaya

Plain English meaning

Protecting the person in terror is an obligation of the whole world. By giving refuge, food, and safety, peace is enlarged.

02

Kāvya

Poetic rendering

The stranger at the threshold carries no less a universe of memory because the storm erased the address of home.

03

Manana

Contemplation

Hospitality requires fair screening and shared responsibility, but vulnerability must never be exploited for political hatred or indefinite neglect.

Prayoga

Civilizational practice

Provide immediate necessities, lawful status, family unity, education, health care, work, and a path toward safe return or dignified belonging.

Param Veda Upaniṣad · One-to-One Bhāṣya

Sit near the question

The companion moves from words and meaning to inward reflection, public application, boundaries against misuse, dialogue, and practice.

Padārtha · Key terms

bhayārta — one afflicted by fear; paritrāṇa — protection; kartavya — duty; āśraya — refuge; bhojana — food; rakṣā — safety

Anvaya · Sequence of meaning

Protecting the person in terror is an obligation of the whole world. By giving refuge, food, and safety, peace is enlarged.

Bhāṣya · Commentary

The person seeking refuge first appears not as foreigner, burden, or instrument, but as a human being under threat. Immediate duties concern life: safety, shelter, food, health, family unity, and fair hearing. Peace expands when terror is not permitted to erase personhood at a border or threshold.

Loka-saṃgraha · Civilizational application

A durable refuge system needs lawful status, timely decisions, safeguarding, education, health care, work, language access, community participation, and a path toward safe return or dignified belonging. Responsibility should be shared so that hospitality does not collapse under isolation.

Maryādā · Boundary against misuse

Protection permits fair identity and security checks; it does not permit indefinite neglect, exploitation, family separation without necessity, or political hatred directed at a whole displaced population. The same evidentiary and dignity standards apply.

Praśna–Uttara

Teacher and student

Questions keep doctrine open to inquiry
Student “Must refuge be unlimited?”
Teacher “Capacity matters, but scarcity creates duties of fair sharing and prioritisation, not permission to dehumanise.”
Student “When is return just?”
Teacher “When it is genuinely safe, informed, voluntary, and accompanied by rights and practical support.”

Prayoga · Practice

  1. 1 Ensure immediate necessities are not withheld during status determination.
  2. 2 Give displaced people a formal voice in the services and settlements affecting them.