Shloka 37

Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman

Manu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

तस्मै सो5थासन दत्त्वा पाद्यमर्घ्य तथैव च । अबवीद्‌ ब्राह्मणो वाक्‍्यं कृत्वा कुशलसंविदम्‌

Transliteration

tasmai so 'thāsanaṃ dattvā pādyam arghyaṃ tathaiva ca | abravīd brāhmaṇo vākyaṃ kṛtvā kuśala-saṃvidam ||

Translation

为他献上座位，又奉上洗足之水与依礼的敬献之物后，那位婆罗门才开口——先行以礼互致问安。此景正显明合乎法（dharma）的待客之仪：先以敬重迎宾，然后方可谈论要事。

Word by Word

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, dative, singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• आसनम्: a seat
• आसनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• दत्त्वा: having given
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (ददाति)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), active

• पाद्यम्: water for washing the feet
• पाद्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• अर्घ्यम्: honorary offering (arghya)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

• अबवीत्: said, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (ब्रवीति)
• Form: imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, singular, active

• ब्राह्मणः: the Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• वाक्यम्: words, a statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• कृत्वा: having made, having done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (करोति)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), active

• कुशलसंविदम्: a greeting/inquiry of welfare
• कुशलसंविदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशलसंविद्
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• ब्राह्मण (Brāhmaṇa)
• आसन (seat)
• पाद्य (foot-washing water)
• अर्घ्य (honor-offering)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights atithi-satkāra (honoring a guest) as a practical expression of dharma: offer a seat and customary refreshments/ritual honors, and begin with courteous inquiries about welfare before proceeding to substantive speech.

What is happening in the narrative?

A brāhmaṇa receives someone respectfully by giving a seat and offering pādya and arghya; after exchanging polite well-being greetings (kuśala-saṃvida), he begins to speak.