Shloka 83

Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)

Devanagari script

कर्म चात्महितं कार्य तीक्ष्णं वा यदि वा मृदु । ग्रस्यते5कर्मशीलस्तु सदानर्थरकिज्चन:,कठोर अथवा कोमल, जो अपने लिये हितकर हो, वह कर्म करते रहना चाहिये। जो कर्मको छोड़ बैठता है, वह निर्धन होकर सदा अनर्थोंका शिकार बना रहता है

Transliteration

brahmadatta uvāca | karma cātmahitaṃ kāryaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ vā yadi vā mṛdu | grasyate 'karmāśīlas tu sadānartharakiñcanaḥ ||

Translation

Brahmadatta said: One should keep performing action that is beneficial to oneself—whether it must be firm and sharp, or gentle and mild. But the person who is not devoted to work, abandoning action, is swallowed up by misfortune and becomes ever destitute, continually falling prey to harmful outcomes.

Word by Word

कर्मaction, work (as the thing to be done)

चand

आत्महितम्beneficial to oneself

कार्यम्to be done, should be done

तीक्ष्णम्harsh, severe

वाor

यदिif

वाor

मृदुsoft, gentle

ग्रस्यतेis devoured/overpowered

अकर्मशीलःone who is not industrious; inactive

तुbut, indeed

सदाalways

अनर्थरःone who brings misfortune; calamity-causer

किञ्चनःa poor man; one having nothing

Speaker

ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच

Characters & Entities

Brahmadatta

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Sandhi Notes