Shloka 47

पूर्वदेहकृतं कर्म शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम्‌ । प्राज्ञ मूं तथा शूरं भजते यादृशं कृतम्‌,मनुष्य बुद्धिमान्‌ हो, मूर्ख हो अथवा शूरवीर हो, उसने पूर्वजन्ममें जैसा शुभ या अशुभ कर्म किया है, उसका वैसा ही फल उसे भोगना पड़ता है

pūrvadehakṛtaṃ karma śubhaṃ vā yadi vāśubham | prājñaṃ mūṃ tathā śūraṃ bhajate yādṛśaṃ kṛtam ||

Der Brāhmaṇa sprach: Welche Tat ein Mensch in einem früheren Leib auch vollbracht hat—sei sie heilsam oder unheilsam—ihr entsprechendes Ergebnis kommt unweigerlich zu ihm. Ob weise, töricht oder heldenhaft: Er muss die Frucht erfahren, die dem Früheren entspricht.

पूर्वदेहकृतम्done in a former body (previous life)
पूर्वदेहकृतम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootपूर्वदेहकृत
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
कर्मdeed, action
कर्म:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
शुभम्good, auspicious
शुभम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootशुभ
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
यदिif
यदि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदि
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
अशुभम्bad, inauspicious
अशुभम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअशुभ
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
प्राज्ञम्a wise (man)
प्राज्ञम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootप्राज्ञ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
मूढम्a foolish (man)
मूढम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमूढ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तथाlikewise, so
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
शूरम्a hero, brave man
शूरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशूर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
भजतेattains, befalls, partakes of
भजते:
TypeVerb
Rootभज्
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada
यादृशम्such as, of what kind
यादृशम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootयादृश
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कृतम्done
कृतम्:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formक्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

ब्राह्मण उवाच

ब्राह्मण (the Brahmin speaker)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches the inevitability of karmic fruition: actions done in a previous life—good or bad—ripen into corresponding experiences, regardless of one’s present intelligence, ignorance, or valor.

In the Shanti Parva’s didactic discourse, a Brahmin speaker explains a principle of moral order: the outcomes people face are shaped by prior deeds, emphasizing ethical responsibility across lifetimes.