Shloka 15

Adhyāya 174: Karma as an inescapable companion (कर्मानुगमन-उपदेश)

Devanagari script

यथोचितं च स बको ययीौ ब्रह्मसदस्तथा

Transliteration

yathocitaṃ ca sa bako yayau brahmasadas tathā

Translation

यथोचितं च स बको ययौ ब्रह्मसदस्तथा ।

Word by Word

• यथा: as, according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• उचितम्: proper, fitting (thing)
• उचितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उचित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बकः: the crane (Bakā)
• बकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ययौ: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (याति)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ब्रह्मसदः: the assembly/hall of Brahmā (Brahmā’s court)
• ब्रह्मसदः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मसद
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Baka
• Brahma-sadas (assembly of Brahmins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights yathocita—acting with situational propriety. Ethical conduct is shown not only by intention but by behaving in a manner suitable to the context and to respected institutions such as a Brahmin assembly.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma states that Baka went, in an appropriate manner, to the brahmasadas—i.e., he proceeded to a gathering/assembly of Brahmins, suggesting a move toward counsel, judgment, or socially sanctioned deliberation.