Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

यच्चेह किंचित्‌ कर्तव्यं तत्सव॑ प्रापितं मया । यथोक्तं भवता काले सर्वमेव च तत्‌ कृतम्‌

Transliteration

yaccēha kiñcit kartavyaṃ tatsarvaṃ prāpitaṃ mayā | yathoktaṃ bhavatā kāle sarvam eva ca tat kṛtam ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：“此处凡应办理之事，我皆已使之圆满。正如您所吩咐，在适当之时，一切确已完成。”

Word by Word

• {'yat': 'whatever, that which', 'ca': 'and', 'iha': 'here, in this place/context', 'kiñcit': 'anything, something (even the least)', 'kartavyam': 'to be done

• necessary task', 'tat': 'that', 'sarvam': 'all, the whole of it', 'prāpitam': 'delivered, brought, caused to reach

• procured and conveyed', 'mayā': 'by me', 'yathoktam': 'as was said/instructed', 'bhavatā': 'by you (honorific instrumental)', 'kāle': 'in time

• at the proper time/occasion', 'kṛtam': 'done, accomplished'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as conscientious execution of assigned duties: acting in accordance with a superior’s instruction, completing what is necessary, and ensuring timely fulfillment without omission.

What is happening in the narrative?

A messenger/attendant reports back respectfully that all required arrangements and tasks for the present occasion have been completed exactly as instructed, and everything has been brought and made ready.