य: पृष्टो मुनिभि: प्राह धर्मान्नानाविदाञ्छुभान् । नृणां वर्णाश्रमाणां च सर्वभूतहित: सदा ॥ ३८ ॥
yah prsto munibhih praha dharman nana-vidhan chubhan nrnam varnasramanam ca sarva-bhuta-hitah sada
- yah
- who
- prstah
- being questioned
- munibhih
- by the sages
- praha
- spoke
- dharman
- the duties
- nana-vidhan
- many varieties
- subhan
- auspicious
- nrnam
- of human society
- varna-asramanam
- of the varnas and asramas
- ca
- and
- sarva-bhuta
- for all living beings
- hitah
- who does welfare
- sada
- always.
In reply to questions asked by certain sages, he (Svayambhuva Manu), out of compassion for all living entities, taught the diverse sacred duties of men in general and the different varnas and asramas.