Shloka 38

Devanagari script

एवं धर्ममनुक्रान्ता: सदा दानतपःपरा: | आनृशंस्यगुणोपेता: कामक्रोधविवर्जिता:,यदि हमलोग सदा दान और तपस्यामें तत्पर हो इसी प्रकार धर्मका अनुसरण करेंगे, दया आदि गुणोंसे सम्पन्न रहेंगे, काम-क्रोध आदि दोषोंको त्याग देंगे, उत्तम दान-धर्मका आश्रय ले प्रजापालनमें लगे रहेंगे तथा गुरुजनों और वृद्ध पुरुषोंकी सेवा करते रहेंगे तो हम अपने अभीष्ट लोक प्राप्त कर लेंगे

Transliteration

evaṁ dharmam anukrāntāḥ sadā dāna-tapaḥ-parāḥ | ānṛśaṁsya-guṇopetāḥ kāma-krodha-vivarjitāḥ ||

Translation

Arjuna said: “If we continually walk in the path of dharma—ever devoted to generosity and austerity—endowed with the virtues of compassion and non-cruelty, and free from the faults of desire and anger, then by taking refuge in noble gifts and righteous conduct, remaining engaged in the protection of the people, and continuing to serve teachers and venerable elders, we shall attain the world we seek.”

Word by Word

एवम्thus, in this manner

धर्मम्dharma, righteousness

अनुक्रान्ताःhaving followed, having proceeded after

सदाalways

दानgiving, charity

तपःausterity, penance

पराःdevoted (to), intent on

आनृशंस्यnon-cruelty, compassion

गुणquality, virtue

उपेताःendowed with, possessed of

कामdesire, lust

क्रोधanger

विवर्जिताःfree from, having abandoned

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

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?

The verse teaches that steadfast adherence to dharma is expressed through concrete virtues: generosity (dāna), disciplined austerity (tapas), compassion/non-cruelty (ānṛśaṁsya), and self-mastery by abandoning desire and anger. Such a life—also marked by responsible governance and service to elders—leads to the attainment of one’s desired spiritual goal.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna speaks reflectively, outlining a program of righteous living and rulership: follow dharma consistently, cultivate compassion, restrain passions like desire and anger, uphold charitable and moral conduct, protect the people, and serve teachers and elders—affirming that these practices secure the sought-after higher realm.