Shloka 33
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
Devanagari script
ब्राह्मण उवाच स्वागतं सूर्यपुत्राय कालाय च महात्मने । मृत्यवे चाथ धर्माय कि कार्य करवाणि व:
Transliteration
brāhmaṇa uvāca svāgataṃ sūryaputrāya kālāya ca mahātmane | mṛtyave cātha dharmāya kiṃ kāryaṃ karavāṇi vaḥ ||
Translation
婆罗门说道：“欢迎太阳之子阎摩，欢迎大心之时间；亦欢迎死亡与法。请告知我——我当为诸位行何事？”
Word by Word
ब्राह्मणःthe Brahmin
ब्राह्मणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
स्वागतम्welcome
स्वागतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootस्वागत
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
सूर्यपुत्रायto the son of the Sun (Yama)
सूर्यपुत्राय:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootसूर्यपुत्र
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
कालायto Time (Kala)
कालाय:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootकाल
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
महात्मनेto the great-souled one
महात्मने:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootमहात्मन्
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
मृत्यवेto Death
मृत्यवे:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootमृत्यु
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
अथthen/also
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
धर्मायto Dharma
धर्माय:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
किम्what
किम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कार्यम्task/duty
कार्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकार्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
करवाणिshould I do
करवाणि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormPresent, Optative (Vidhi-lin), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada
वःfor you (of you all)
वः:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormGenitive, Plural
Speaker
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Characters & Entities
ब
ब्राह्मण (Brāhmaṇa)स
सूर्यपुत्र यम (Sūryaputra Yama)क
काल (Kāla)म
मृत्यु (Mṛtyu)ध
धर्म (Dharma)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse models ethical composure and hospitality even toward fearsome cosmic powers—Time, Death, and Dharma—implying that one should meet inevitable realities with clarity, respect, and readiness to do one’s duty.
A Brahmin addresses the arriving figures identified as Yama (son of the Sun), Kāla (Time), Mṛtyu (Death), and Dharma, formally welcoming them and asking what service or task they require of him.