Shloka 5

Devanagari script

प्रयत्नं कृतवन्तो5पि दृश्यन्ते ह्फला नरा: । मार्गत्यायशतैरर्थानमार्गश्वापर: सुखी

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | prayatnaṃ kṛtavanto 'pi dṛśyante hy aphalā narāḥ | mārgatyāyaśatair arthān amārgaś cāparaḥ sukhī ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: Even those who exert themselves are seen to remain without result. One person pursues wealth through hundreds of lawful means, yet another, taking to an unlawful path, appears prosperous and content.

Word by Word

• प्रयत्नम्: effort
• प्रयत्नम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कृतवन्तः: having done / having made
• कृतवन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृतवत् (कृत + वत्)
• Form: Periphrastic perfect (लिट्-अर्थे कृतवत्-प्रयोगः), Third, Plural, Masculine

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• दृश्यन्ते: are seen / are found
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Lat, Atmanepada (passive sense), Third, Plural

• अफलाḥ: unsuccessful, fruitless
• अफलाḥ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अफल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नराः: men, people
• नराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मार्गत्यागशतैः: by hundreds of (means/attempts) of abandoning the right path
• मार्गत्यागशतैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्गत्यागशत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अर्थान्: wealth, gains
• अर्थान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अमार्गः: wrong path
• अमार्गः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमार्ग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपरः: another (person)
• अपरः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अपर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुखी: happy, prosperous
• सुखी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• narāḥ (people)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Visible success is not a reliable measure of righteousness: sincere effort can still fail, while unethical means may appear to bring prosperity. The verse raises the ethical problem of judging dharma by outcomes alone.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira voices a doubt based on observation: despite hard work and proper means, some remain unsuccessful, whereas others gain wealth and comfort through improper paths. This sets up a discussion on dharma, fate, and the true standards for evaluating conduct.