Shloka 110

The Marks of Merit and the Destinies of Beings

Divine vs Demonic Traits

Devanagari script

अयमेव मनुष्याणां सदाचारो निरंतरम् । देववन्मानवाचारो गीयते मुनिसत्तमैः

Transliteration

ayameva manuṣyāṇāṃ sadācāro niraṃtaram | devavanmānavācāro gīyate munisattamaiḥ

Translation

This alone is the unceasing good conduct for humankind: the greatest sages sing the praise of human conduct that is like the conduct of the devas.

Word by Word

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• एव: indeed / only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मनुष्याणाम्: of humans
• मनुष्याणाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• सदाचारः: good conduct
• सदाचारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद् + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सद् (good) + आचारः (conduct) = ‘good conduct’

• निरन्तरम्: continually
• निरन्तरम्: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निरन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगः (adverbial use; indeclinable sense)

• देववत्: like the gods
• देववत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: देववत् (अव्यय/तुल्योपमा)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable of comparison: ‘like a god’)

• मानवाचारः: human conduct
• मानवाचारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—मानवानाम् आचारः (conduct of humans)

• गीयते: is sung / is praised
• गीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• मुनिसत्तमैः: by the best sages
• मुनिसत्तमैः: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—मुनिषु सत्तमाः (best among sages)

Speaker

Unspecified (narratorial/teaching voice within the chapter context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: देववन्मानवाचारो = देववत् मानवाचारः; अयमेव = अयम् एव.

FAQs

What does this verse teach about ideal human behavior?

It defines ideal conduct (sadācāra) as steady and continuous, and says that the best human behavior is that which resembles divine (god-like) conduct.

How does this verse relate to Bhakti or Vaishnava theology?

While not naming a deity here, it supports a core Purāṇic ethic: devotees should cultivate purity, restraint, and compassion—virtues often described as “god-like”—as part of living dharma alongside devotion.

What is the ethical lesson emphasized by the sages’ praise?

That ethics is not occasional but uninterrupted; consistent right conduct is the hallmark of a noble life and is endorsed by authoritative sages.