Shloka 24

कर्म–ज्ञान–दैव–स्वभावविचारः

Inquiry into Karma, Knowledge, Fate, and Nature

Devanagari script

त॑ सर्वगुणसम्पन्नं दक्ष शुचिमनामयम्‌ । कालज्ञं च प्रियज्ञं च क: प्रियं न करिष्यति

Transliteration

taṁ sarvaguṇasampannaṁ dakṣaṁ śucim anāmayam | kālajñaṁ ca priyajñaṁ ca kaḥ priyaṁ na kariṣyati ||

Translation

Vāyu dit : «Il est pourvu de toutes les vertus — habile et efficace dans l’action, pur dans sa conduite, exempt de maladie, connaissant le moment juste et la valeur du temps, et sachant vraiment ce qui est cher et digne d’amour. Qui donc ne le tiendrait pas pour bien-aimé ?»

Word by Word

• तं: him
• तं: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वगुणसम्पन्नम्: endowed with all virtues
• सर्वगुणसम्पन्नम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वगुणसम्पन्न
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दक्षम्: skilful, competent
• दक्षम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शुचिम्: pure
• शुचिम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनामयम्: free from disease, healthy
• अनामयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनामय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कालज्ञम्: knower of time, timely/discerning
• कालज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कालज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• प्रियज्ञम्: knower of what is dear/pleasing
• प्रियज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रियज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रियम्: what is dear; a dear one (as object)
• प्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• करिष्यति: will make/do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that comprehensive virtue—competence, purity, health, timely judgment, and understanding of what is truly dear—naturally inspires affection and respect. Ethical excellence is presented as self-authenticating: such a person becomes beloved without coercion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is praising an exemplary individual by listing his qualities. The statement functions as a commendation within the Shanti Parva’s moral discourse, arguing that a person of such virtues inevitably wins people’s love.