Shloka 34
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
भीष्म उवाच अर्घ्य पाद्यं च दत्त्वा स तेभ्यस्तत्र समागमे । अब्रवीत् परमप्रीत: स्वशक््त्या कि करोमि व:,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्! वहाँ उन सबका समागम होनेपर ब्राह्मणने उनके लिये अर्घ्य और पाद्य देकर बड़ी प्रसन्नताके साथ कहा--'देवताओ! मैं अपनी शक्तिके अनुसार आपलोगोंकी क्या सेवा करूँ?”
bhīṣma uvāca | arghya-pādyaṃ ca dattvā sa tebhyaḥ tatra samāgame | abravīt paramaprītaḥ svaśaktyā kiṃ karomi vaḥ ||
Bhishma disse: “Ó rei, quando todos se reuniram ali, o brâmane ofereceu-lhes as honras costumeiras — arghya e água para lavar os pés. Então, tomado de grande alegria, dirigiu-se a eles: ‘Ó seres divinos, que serviço posso prestar-vos, conforme a minha capacidade?’”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed as respectful hospitality and humble service: one should honor worthy guests with proper rites (arghya, pādya) and offer help within one’s means (svaśaktyā), without pride or neglect.
As the divine visitors gather, a brahmin receives them formally by offering arghya and water for washing their feet. Delighted, he asks what service he can provide them according to his capacity.