Shloka 17

Adhyāya 262: Śabda-brahman, Para-brahman, and the Ethics of Tyāga

Kapila–Syūmaraśmi Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

विगुणं च पुन: कर्म ज्याय इत्यनुशुश्रुम

Transliteration

viguṇaṁ ca punaḥ karma jyāya ity anuśuśruma

Translation

And again we have heard this teaching: even an action that is deficient in its outward qualities or execution may still be the better course—when it accords with the deeper demands of dharma and right intention.

Word by Word

• विगुणम्: defective; lacking merit/quality
• विगुणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगुण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• पुनः: again; moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• कर्म: action; deed; ritual act
• कर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ज्यायः: better; superior
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्यायस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• अनुशुश्रुम: we have heard (traditionally); we heard
• अनुशुश्रुम: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), First, Plural, Parasmaipada

Speaker

चुलाधार उवाच

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse cites a traditional maxim: moral worth is not judged only by flawless performance or external excellence; an action that appears imperfect can still be superior if it aligns with dharma and is guided by right understanding and intention.

What is happening in the narrative?

Chulādhāra is continuing a didactic instruction, invoking what has been 'heard' in authoritative tradition to support a point about ethical evaluation of actions—prioritizing dharmic alignment over mere outward perfection.