Shloka 127

Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman

Manu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

अथवा चेक्षते लोकान्‌ सर्वान्‌ निरयसंज्ञितान्‌ निस्पृह: सर्वतो मुक्तस्तत्र वै रमते सुखम्‌

Transliteration

athavā cekṣate lokān sarvān niraya-saṃjñitān niḥspṛhaḥ sarvato muktaḥ tatra vai ramate sukham

Translation

Or else, he looks upon all worlds—even the so‑called heavenly realms—as no better than hell. Free from craving and released on every side, he abides there in the attributeless Brahman, delighting in a quiet, unconditioned happiness.

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ईक्षते: he sees/observes
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईक्ष्
• Form: Lat (present indicative), 3, singular, Ātmanepada

• लोकान्: worlds/realms
• लोकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• निरय-संज्ञितान्: called/termed 'hell'
• निरय-संज्ञितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरय-संज्ञित
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• निस्पृहः: desireless
• निस्पृहः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निस्पृह
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सर्वतः: from all sides / in every way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः

• मुक्तः: freed/liberated
• मुक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• रमते: he delights/dwells
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम्
• Form: Lat (present indicative), 3, singular, Ātmanepada

• सुखम्: happiness/comfort
• सुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

Speaker

विरूप उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Virūpa
• lokāḥ (worlds/realms)
• niraya (hell)
• nirguṇa brahman (attributeless Brahman)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True freedom arises when one becomes niḥspṛha—without craving—and sees even exalted worlds as ultimately unsatisfactory. Liberation is portrayed as resting in nirguṇa Brahman, where happiness is not dependent on external attainments.

What is happening in the narrative?

Virūpa describes the liberated person’s vision: instead of being attracted to various worlds (including ‘higher’ ones), he regards them as akin to hell because they remain within bondage. Having become free in every respect, he abides in Brahman and delights in that state.