Shloka 48

Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

नवेत्ति कर्मतो भायरिक्षणे यो5क्षम: पुमान्‌

Transliteration

na vetti karmato bhaya-rīkṣaṇe yo 'kṣamaḥ pumān

Translation

নকুল বললেন—যে পুরুষ কর্মের কারণ-পরিণাম বিচার করে ভয়কে পরীক্ষা করতে অক্ষম, সে ভয়কে সত্যিকার অর্থে জানে না।

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• वेत्ति: knows
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: Lat, Present indicative, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कर्मतः: from/with regard to action (deeds)
• कर्मतः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• भय: fear
• भय: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• रीक्षणे: in/at the observing, in the examination
• रीक्षणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रीक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अक्षमः: incapable, unable
• अक्षमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुमान्: a man, person
• पुमान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नकुल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nakula

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Fear should be understood through clear scrutiny of action (karma): its causes, likely outcomes, and one’s capacity to respond. Without such practical discernment, fear remains unexamined and therefore not truly ‘known’ or mastered.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nakula is speaking in a didactic context, offering a concise maxim: competence in evaluating fear must be grounded in assessing actions and their consequences, aligning courage with thoughtful judgment rather than impulse.