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Shloka 6

अव्यक्तकालमान-निर्णयः

Measures of Time from the Unmanifest; Creation, Elements, and the Primacy of Mind

तन्नः कार्य पक्षिवर प्रशाधि यत्‌ कार्याणां मन्यसे श्रेष्ठमेकम्‌ । यत्‌ कृत्वा वै पुरुष: सर्वबन्धै- विमुच्यते विहगेन्द्रेह शीघ्रम्‌ू,पक्षिराज! खगश्रेष्ठ) समस्त कार्योमेंसे जिस एक कार्यको आप सबसे उत्तम समझते हों तथा जिसके करनेसे जीवको सब प्रकारके बन्धनोंसे शीघ्र छुटकारा मिल सके, उसीका हमें उपदेश कीजिये

tan naḥ kārya pakṣivara praśādhi yat kāryāṇāṁ manyase śreṣṭham ekam | yat kṛtvā vai puruṣaḥ sarvabandhair vimucyate vihagendreha śīghram ||

قال بهيشما: «يا خيرَ الطير، علِّمنا ما ينبغي فعله—أخبرنا بالفعل الواحد الذي تراه أسمى الواجبات كلها. فبأدائه يتحرر المرء سريعًا هنا نفسه، يا سيّد الطير، من كل صنوف القيود.»

तत्that (thing)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
नःto us
नः:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormDative, Plural
कार्यto be done; duty; task
कार्य:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकार्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
पक्षि-वरO best of birds
पक्षि-वर:
TypeNoun
Rootपक्षि + वर
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
प्रशाधिinstruct; direct; tell
प्रशाधि:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-शास्
FormImperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada
यत्which (thing)
यत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कार्याणाम्of (all) duties/tasks
कार्याणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootकार्य
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
मन्यसेyou think/consider
मन्यसे:
TypeVerb
Rootमन्
FormPresent, Second, Singular, Atmanepada
श्रेष्ठम्best
श्रेष्ठम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेष्ठ
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
एकम्one (single)
एकम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootएक
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
यत्which (thing)
यत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कृत्वाhaving done
कृत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
पुरुषःa person
पुरुषः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सर्व-बन्धैःfrom all bonds/bindings
सर्व-बन्धैः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व + बन्ध
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
विमुच्यतेis released/freed
विमुच्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-मुच्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Passive
विहग-इन्द्रO lord of birds
विहग-इन्द्र:
TypeNoun
Rootविहग + इन्द्र
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
इहhere (in this world)
इह:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइह
शीघ्रम्quickly
शीघ्रम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootशीघ्र

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
P
Pakṣivara (best of birds)
V
Vihagendra (lord of birds)

Educational Q&A

The verse frames a central ethical-spiritual inquiry: among all possible duties, what single practice is supreme and leads to swift freedom from all forms of bondage. It emphasizes prioritizing the highest dharma that culminates in liberation (mokṣa).

Bhīṣma addresses a revered “lord of birds,” requesting instruction. He asks the bird-sage to identify the one best course of action—above all other duties—by which a person can be quickly released from worldly bonds in this very life.