Feb 20, 2008

A śloka a day

I start today an ambitious enterprise to exercise the translation of a śloka each day.
Today's śloka is from Bhagavad-Gītā

Arjuna uvāca
kiṃ tadbrahma kimadhyātmaṃ kiṃ karma puruṣottama |
adhibhūtaṃ ca kiṃ proktamadhidaivaṃ kimucyate || BG 8.1


Arjuna=proper name
uvāca=pf. 3. sg. said
kim=what...?
tad=N.sg. that
brahma=N.sg. Brahman
adhy-ātmam=N.sg. supreme Self
karma=N.sg. the rite
puruṣottama=V.sg. the greatest of the men
adhibhūtam=N.sg. essence of the beings
ca=and
proktam=pp N.sg. understood
adhi-daivam=N.sg. essence of gods
ucyate=ps.3.sg. is called


Arjuna said:
What is that Brahman? What is the Supreme Self?
What is the rite, oh, the greatest of the man!?

What is understood by the essence of beings,
what is called the essence of gods?

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