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Shloka 8

महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः

Mahodara’s Counsel and the Critique of Kumbhakarna’s Solo Assault

निश्श्रेयसफलावेवधर्मार्थावितरावपि ।अधर्मानर्थयोःप्राप्तिःफलं च प्रत्यवायिकम् ।।।।

niḥśreyasaphalāv eva dharmārthāv itarāv api | adharmānarthayoḥ prāptiḥ phalaṃ ca pratyavāyikam ||

Dharma und Artha — ja selbst die übrigen Ziele — tragen heilsame Frucht, wenn man ihnen rechtmäßig folgt; aus Adharma und aus Verderblichem aber erwächst ein gegenteiliger, schädlicher Lohn, der ins Unheil führt.

niśśreyasa-phalauhaving niśśreyasa (highest good) as fruit
niśśreyasa-phalau:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootniśśreyasa (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘niśśreyasasya phalam’
evaonly/indeed
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormEmphatic particle (अवधारण)
dharma-arthaudharma and artha
dharma-arthau:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdharma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व
itarauthe other two (among the three)
itarau:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootitara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; adjective qualifying dharmārthau
apialso/even
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormParticle (समुच्चय/अपि)
adharma-anarthayoḥof adharma and anartha
adharma-anarthayoḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootadharma (प्रातिपदिक) + anartha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व
prāptiḥattainment
prāptiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootprāpti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
phalamresult
phalam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootphala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; in apposition to prāptiḥ
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चय)
pratyavāyikamleading to harm/negative consequence
pratyavāyikam:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpratyavāyika (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective qualifying phalam

" All virtues and worldly pleasures and even otherwise give only benefit. But if done with disinterest and unrighteousness it can give a result which is other than prosperity."

D
dharma
A
artha
A
adharma

FAQs

Dharma is presented as the condition for truly auspicious outcomes; adharma inevitably yields pratyavāya—reversal, loss, and downfall.

In evaluating war-policy and life-goals, the speaker underscores that unrighteous means corrupt even desirable ends.

Moral clarity: the insistence that ends do not sanctify means; righteousness is integral to success.