Shloka 12

कालनिर्देशः शोकनिवारणं च

Instruction on Kāla and the Removal of Grief

Devanagari script

आधानादीनि कर्माणि शक्तिमान्न करोति यः । अप्रयच्छंश्व॒ सर्वाणि नित्यदेयानि भारत

Transliteration

ādhānādīni karmāṇi śaktimān na karoti yaḥ | aprayacchaṁś ca sarvāṇi nityadeyāni bhārata ||

Translation

Vyāsa sprach: „O Bhārata, wer die Mittel besitzt und doch die vorgeschriebenen Handlungen, beginnend mit den häuslichen Samskāras, nicht vollzieht und wer alle Gaben zurückhält, die regelmäßig zu geben sind, der verfehlt seine Pflicht und bleibt hinter rechter Lebensführung zurück.“

Word by Word

आधानादीनिacts such as consecration/placing (rites) and others

कर्माणिactions, rites

शक्तिमान्capable, having ability

नnot

करोतिdoes, performs

यःwho

अप्रयच्छन्not giving, withholding

चand

सर्वाणिall

नित्यदेयानिthings that must be given regularly (daily obligatory gifts)

भारतO Bharata

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

Bhārata (address to Yudhiṣṭhira/descendant of Bharata)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Capability creates obligation: one who has the means should perform prescribed duties (especially household/ritual responsibilities) and should not withhold regular, obligatory giving; neglect of both is a lapse in dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Vyāsa addresses Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira) and characterizes a blameworthy type of person: the capable householder who neglects required rites and fails to give what should be given regularly.