Shloka 55
अध्याय ३३७ — ज्ञानमार्ग-वैविध्यप्रश्नः तथा व्यासस्य नारायणोद्भवकथा
Systems of Knowledge and Vyāsa’s Nārāyaṇa-Origin
Devanagari script
महत् कार्य च कर्तव्यं युष्माभिद्विजसत्तमा:
Transliteration
mahat kāryaṃ ca kartavyaṃ yuṣmābhir dvijasattamāḥ
Translation
神は告げた。「大いなる務めが汝らの前にある。おお、二度生まれし者のうち最勝の者よ。それはまさしく汝らが引き受けねばならぬ。」
Word by Word
महत्great
महत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
कार्यंa task / what is to be done
कार्यं:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृ-धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
कर्तव्यंmust be done / to be done
कर्तव्यं:
TypeAdjective
Rootकर्तव्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृ-धातोः तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
युष्माभिःby you (all)
युष्माभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formत्रिलिङ्ग (सर्वनाम), तृतीया, बहुवचन
द्विजसत्तमाःO best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
द्विजसत्तमाः:
TypeNoun
Rootद्विजसत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, बहुवचन
Speaker
देव उवाच
Characters & Entities
द
देव (a deity/divine speaker)द
द्विजसत्तमाः (excellent brāhmaṇas)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
That weighty obligations should be accepted and carried out when they fall within one’s rightful role—here, the divine voice emphasizes the binding nature of duty (kartavya) and the seriousness of the task (mahat kārya).
A deity addresses a group of eminent brāhmaṇas, urging them to undertake an important undertaking. The line functions as a divine commission, framing the forthcoming action as necessary and dharmically mandated.