Shloka 34

Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman

Manu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच अर्घ्य पाद्यं च दत्त्वा स तेभ्यस्तत्र समागमे । अब्रवीत्‌ परमप्रीत: स्वशक्‍्त्या कि करोमि व:

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | arghya-pādyaṃ ca dattvā sa tebhyaḥ tatra samāgame | abravīt paramaprītaḥ svaśaktyā kiṃ karomi vaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“大王啊，当他们都在彼处聚集时，那婆罗门依礼献上敬奉之物——阿尔伽供水与洗足之水。随后他满怀欢喜地说道：‘诸位神圣者啊，依我之力，我当如何侍奉诸位？’”

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अर्घ्यम्: honorary offering (arghya)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पाद्यम्: water for washing the feet (pādya)
• पाद्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• दत्त्वा: having given
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Absolutive (त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त), Parasmaipada

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

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Dative, Plural

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• समागमे: at the gathering/meeting
• समागमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समागम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• परमप्रीतः: very pleased
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमप्रीत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वशक्त्या: by/according to (his) own ability
• स्वशक्त्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वशक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• करोमि: shall I do / do I do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Present (Laṭ), 1, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वः: for you (all) / of you
• वः: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Dative/Genitive, Plural, 2

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King (Yudhishthira, implied by context of Shanti Parva narration)
• a brahmin (unnamed in this verse)
• devas/divine beings (addressed as 'devatāḥ')
• arghya
• pādya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed as respectful hospitality and humble service: one should honor worthy guests with proper rites (arghya, pādya) and offer help within one’s means (svaśaktyā), without pride or neglect.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the divine visitors gather, a brahmin receives them formally by offering arghya and water for washing their feet. Delighted, he asks what service he can provide them according to his capacity.