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Shloka 38

Manu Offers Devahūti to Kardama; The Sage Accepts with a Devotional Vow

य: पृष्टो मुनिभि: प्राह धर्मान्नानाविदाञ्छुभान् । नृणां वर्णाश्रमाणां च सर्वभूतहित: सदा ॥ ३८ ॥

yaḥ pṛṣṭo munibhiḥ prāha dharmān nānā-vidhāñ chubhān nṛṇāṁ varṇāśramāṇāṁ ca sarva-bhūta-hitaḥ sadā

En réponse aux questions de certains sages, Svāyambhuva Manu, toujours soucieux du bien de tous les êtres, enseigna avec compassion les divers dharmas sacrés : les devoirs généraux des hommes et ceux des différentes varṇas et āśramas.

यःhe who
यः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन
पृष्टःhaving been asked
पृष्टः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Root√पृच्छ् (धातु) → पृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; predicate to ‘यः’
मुनिभिःby sages
मुनिभिः:
Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/Agent in passive)
TypeNoun
Rootमुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन
प्राहsaid
प्राह:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√ब्रू (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन
धर्मान्duties, dharmas
धर्मान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन
नानाविधान्of various kinds
नानाविधान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootनाना (अव्यय) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमास: नाना-विध (various kinds) इति कर्मधारय; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; adjective of ‘धर्मान्’
शुभान्auspicious, good
शुभान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; adjective of ‘धर्मान्’
नृणाम्of men/people
नृणाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootनृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन
वर्णाश्रमाणाम्of the social classes and life-stages
वर्णाश्रमाणाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootवर्ण + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमास: वर्ण + आश्रम इति इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
सर्वभूतहितःbeneficial to all beings
सर्वभूतहितः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व + भूत + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमास: सर्वेषां भूतानां हितः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; predicate adjective of ‘यः’
सदाalways
सदा:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसदा (अव्यय)
Formकाल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

FAQs

This verse highlights that auspicious dharma is taught for human society in terms of varṇa and āśrama, and that such instruction should ultimately be beneficial and purifying.

Because true dharma is not sectarian or cruel; it is meant to uplift consciousness and bring real good to all living beings, reflecting a saintly heart.

By living one’s duties responsibly while cultivating compassion—avoiding harm, serving others, and aligning daily actions with spiritually beneficial principles.