Shloka 9

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच भूतग्रामस्य कर्तारें कालज्ञाने च निश्चयम्‌ । ब्राह्मणस्य च यत्‌ कृत्यं तद्‌ भवान्‌ वक्तुमहति,श्रीशुकदेवजी बोले--पिताजी! समस्त प्राणि-समुदायको उत्पन्न करनेवाला कौन है? कालके ज्ञानके विषयमें आपका क्‍या निश्चय है? और ब्राह्मणका क्‍या कर्तव्य है? ये सब बातें आप बतानेकी कृपा करें

Transliteration

śrīśuka uvāca | bhūtagrāmasya kartāraṃ kālajñāne ca niścayam | brāhmaṇasya ca yat kṛtyaṃ tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||

Translation

Śrī Śuka said: “Father, who is the creator of the entire multitude of living beings? What is your settled understanding regarding the knowledge of Time? And what, indeed, is the proper duty of a brāhmaṇa? Please be so kind as to explain these matters.”

Word by Word

• श्रीशुकः: Śrī-Śuka (the venerable Śuka)
• श्रीशुकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीशुक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भूतग्रामस्य: of the multitude of beings
• भूतग्रामस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतग्राम
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• कर्तारम्: the creator/doer
• कर्तारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कालज्ञाने: in/with regard to knowledge of time
• कालज्ञाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालज्ञान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• निश्चयम्: certainty/settled view
• निश्चयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ब्राह्मणस्य: of a brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

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

• यत्: what/that which
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• कृत्यम्: duty; what is to be done
• कृत्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वक्तुम्: to speak; to tell
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• अर्हति: is able/ought; is worthy (to)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

श्रीशुक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Śuka (Śukadeva)
• Father (addressed interlocutor)
• Kāla (Time)
• Brāhmaṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames three foundational inquiries for dharma and wisdom: the source of all beings (cosmic causality), the true understanding of Time as a governing principle of change and destiny, and the prescribed conduct of a brāhmaṇa—linking metaphysical insight with ethical obligation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śuka respectfully questions his father/teacher, requesting instruction on creation, the nature and certainty of knowledge about Time, and the duties appropriate to a brāhmaṇa—setting up a didactic exposition typical of Śānti Parva’s reflective, philosophical discourse.