Shloka 18

Ātma-saṃyama-dharma: One-pointedness of Mind and Senses (शुक–व्यास संवादः)

Devanagari script

कृतमित्येव तत्सरव॑ कृत्वा तिछेत पार्श्चत: । किंकर: सर्वकारी स्यात्‌ सर्वकर्मसु कोविद:

Transliteration

kṛtam ity eva tat sarvaṃ kṛtvā tiṣṭhet pārśvataḥ | kiṃkaraḥ sarvakārī syāt sarvakarmasu kovidaḥ ||

Translation

Having completed every assigned task, he should report back and stand by the teacher’s side, saying only, “It is done.” Like an obedient attendant, he should remain ready for whatever is next—capable of carrying out all duties and skilled in the execution of every kind of work.

Word by Word

• कृतम्: done, completed
• कृतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• इति: thus (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• तत्: that (task/thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वम्: all, entirely
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā)

• तिष्ठेत्: should stand/remain
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → तिष्ठति (प्रसादि-लट्) ; विधिलिङ्: तिष्ठेत्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-liṅ), 3rd, Singular

• पार्श्वतः: at the side, nearby
• पार्श्वतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)

• किंकरः: servant, attendant
• किंकरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वकारी: doing all (tasks), all-doing
• सर्वकारी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्यात्: should be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु) → स्यात्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-liṅ), 3rd, Singular

• सर्वकर्मसु: in all actions/works
• सर्वकर्मसु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• कोविदः: skilled, proficient
• कोविदः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa (speaker)
• guru (teacher)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A disciple/attendant should practice disciplined service: complete tasks fully, report succinctly (“It is done”), stay near and ready for further instruction, and cultivate competence so that any duty can be performed well.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa describes the proper conduct of one serving a guru: after finishing all assigned work, the servant stands by the teacher, ready for the next command, embodying obedience, readiness, and skill in carrying out duties.