Shloka 87

Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman

Manu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

तावुभौ सुभृशं तप्ती राजानमिदमूचतु: । परीक्ष्य त्वं यथा स्यावो नावामिह विगर्हिती

Transliteration

tāv ubhau subhṛśaṃ taptī rājānam idam ūcatuḥ | parīkṣya tvaṃ yathā syāvo nāvām iha vigarhitī ||

Translation

二人はひどく苦悩し、王にこう訴えた。「どうか我らの件を吟味し、裁きを下してください。ここにおいて我ら二人が咎を負い、非難の的となることのないように。」

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: उभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• सुभृशम्: exceedingly, greatly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सुभृशम्

• तप्ती: burnt, distressed
• तप्ती: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual, past passive participle (kta), irregular/poetic form for तप्तौ

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इदम्: this (speech/statement)
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ऊचतुः: they two said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Dual, Parasmaipada

• परीक्ष्य: having examined
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ईक्ष्
• Form: absolutive (ktvā/lyap), Parasmaipada (usage)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular, Masculine (contextual)

• यथा: so that, in such a way that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• स्यावः: we two may be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Optative, First, Dual, Parasmaipada

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

• आवाम्: we two
• आवाम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Dual

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• विगर्हितौ: censured, blameworthy
• विगर्हितौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-गर्ह्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual, past passive participle (kta)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the king
• two distressed persons (unnamed in this verse)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should decide disputes only after careful examination (parīkṣā). Proper inquiry protects people from unjust blame and upholds dharma through impartial judgment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two individuals, overwhelmed with distress, approach the king and request a formal investigation and verdict so that neither is condemned or disgraced in the community.