Shloka 84

Devanagari script

तस्मात्‌ सर्व व्यपोहार्थ कार्य एव पराक्रम: । सर्वस्वमपि संत्यज्य कार्यमात्महितं नरैः,अतः काल, दैव और स्वभाव आदि सारे पदार्थोंका भरोसा छोड़कर पराक्रम ही करना चाहिये। मनुष्यको सर्वस्वकी बाजी लगाकर भी अपने हितका साधन ही करना चाहिये

Transliteration

tasmāt sarva-vyapohārthaṁ kārya eva parākramaḥ | sarvasvam api saṁtyajya kāryam ātma-hitaṁ naraiḥ ||

Translation

Therefore, setting aside all excuses and evasions, one should rely on effort alone and act with valor. Even at the cost of one’s entire possessions, a person should pursue what truly serves one’s own welfare—rather than placing trust in factors like time, fate, or innate disposition.

Word by Word

तस्मात्therefore; from that (reason)

सर्वall; entire

व्यपोहार्थम्for the purpose of removal/avoidance

कार्यःto be done; obligatory

एवindeed; only

पराक्रमःeffort; valor; exertion

सर्वस्वम्one's all; entire possessions

अपिeven; also

संत्यज्यhaving abandoned; even after giving up

कार्यम्the deed; what must be done

आत्महितम्one's own welfare; self-benefit

नरैःby men; by human beings

Speaker

ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच

Characters & Entities

ब

ब्रह्मदत्त (Brahmadatta)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Do not lean on time, fate, or temperament as excuses; undertake decisive effort. Even if it requires sacrificing everything, pursue what genuinely promotes one’s true welfare (ātma-hita).

What is happening in the narrative?

Brahmadatta delivers a didactic counsel in the Śānti Parva, urging practical initiative and moral resolve: one should act for one’s real good through personal effort rather than surrendering responsibility to external determinants.