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Shloka 22

अध्याय २९७ — श्रेयः, धृति, दान-नियमाः

Welfare, Steadfastness, and Norms of Giving

जातमन्वेति मरणं नृणामिति विनिश्चय: । अन्तवन्ति हि कर्माणि सेवन्ते गुणत: प्रजा:,जन्मके साथ ही मृत्यु मनुष्योंके पीछे लगी रहती है। यह विद्वानोंका निश्चय है। समस्त प्रजा सत्त्व आदि गुणोंसे प्रेरित होकर विनाशशील कर्मोका आचरण करती है

jātam anveti maraṇaṁ nṛṇām iti viniścayaḥ | antavanti hi karmāṇi sevante guṇataḥ prajāḥ ||

انسان کے پیدا ہوتے ہی موت اس کے پیچھے لگ جاتی ہے—یہ اہلِ دانش کا طے شدہ فیصلہ ہے۔ اور اعمال اپنی فطرت میں محدود اور فنا پذیر ہیں؛ اسی لیے مخلوق سَتْو، رَجَس اور تَمَس کی کیفیات سے محرک ہو کر انہی عارضی اعمال میں مشغول رہتی ہے۔

जातम्the born (being)
जातम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootजात (√जन्)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अन्वेतिfollows
अन्वेति:
Karta
TypeVerb
Root√इ (अनु + इ)
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
मरणम्death
मरणम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमरण
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
नृणाम्of men / of humans
नृणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootनृ
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
इतिthus (quotative)
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
विनिश्चयःthe settled conclusion
विनिश्चयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविनिश्चय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अन्तवन्तिhaving an end / perishable
अन्तवन्ति:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्तवत्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
हिindeed
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
कर्माणिactions
कर्माणि:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
सेवन्तेengage in / practice
सेवन्ते:
Karta
TypeVerb
Root√सेव्
FormPresent, 3rd, Plural, Atmanepada
गुणतःdue to the guṇas / by the qualities
गुणतः:
Karana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootगुण
प्रजाःcreatures / people
प्रजाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural

पराशर उवाच

पराशर (Parāśara)
मृत्यु (Death)
गुण (sattva, rajas, tamas)
प्रजा (living beings/people)

Educational Q&A

Birth and death are inseparably linked: mortality begins 'from birth' itself. Since all actions are finite and end-bound, people—impelled by the guṇas of prakṛti—keep performing transient deeds. The ethical thrust is toward sobriety, discernment, and reduced attachment to impermanent action and its fruits.

Parāśara is instructing his listener in a reflective, philosophical mode typical of the Śānti Parva: he states a wise certainty about human mortality and explains human behavior through the framework of the guṇas, emphasizing why beings continue to act despite the perishability of actions and life.