Shloka 17

Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman

Manu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्त्वा भगवती जगाम भवनं स्वकम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca evam uktvā bhagavatī jagāma bhavanaṃ svakam

Translation

ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞിട്ട് ആ ഭഗവതി തന്റെ സ്വന്തം വസതിയിലേക്കു പോയി.

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्त्वा: having said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), क्त्वा

• भगवती: the venerable lady / the blessed one
• भगवती: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• जगाम: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• भवनम्: house, dwelling
• भवनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• स्वकम्: own
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• bhagavatī (a revered lady, unnamed in this verse)
• bhavana (dwelling/residence)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic pattern of conduct: speak what is necessary and proper, then withdraw without agitation. It implies restraint, closure after counsel, and respect for social and moral order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that, after delivering her statement or instruction, the revered woman leaves the scene and returns to her own residence, signaling the end of that exchange.