Shloka 29
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
भीष्म उवाच अथ वैवस्वत: कालो मृत्युश्च त्रितयं विभो । ब्राह्मणं तं महाभागमुपगम्येदमब्नुवन्
bhīṣma uvāca atha vaivasvataḥ kālo mṛtyuś ca tritayaṃ vibho | brāhmaṇaṃ taṃ mahābhāgam upagamya idam abruvan |
毗湿摩说道：“于是，勇者啊，毗婆斯梵之子（阎摩，Vaivasvata）与时间、死亡——这三者——走近那位卓越的婆罗门，对他说道如下。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames mortality as governed by an impersonal cosmic order: Time and Death, together with Yama, move as authoritative forces. In the ethical context of Śānti Parva, this prepares the listener to reflect on dharma, impermanence, and the need for right conduct before the inevitability of death.
Bhishma narrates that Yama (Vaivasvata), accompanied by the personified forces of Time and Death, approaches an illustrious Brahmin. The verse functions as a transition, introducing a forthcoming dialogue or pronouncement directed to the Brahmin.