Shloka 11

Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 123 — Bhīṣma–Droṇa–Vidura Upadeśa to Duryodhana

Keśava-vākya aftermath

Devanagari script

धर्मार्थयुक्ता लोके5स्मिन्‌ प्रवृत्तिलक्ष्यते सताम्‌

Transliteration

dharmārthayuktā loke 'smin pravṛttir lakṣyate satām

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “In this world, the conduct of the virtuous is seen to be guided by dharma and by rightful purpose; their activity is marked by a harmony of moral duty and legitimate aims.”

Word by Word

• धर्मार्थयुक्ता: connected with dharma and artha
• धर्मार्थयुक्ता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मार्थयुक्त
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• प्रवृत्तिः: activity; engagement; conduct
• प्रवृत्तिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवृत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• लक्ष्यते: is seen; is observed
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive

• सताम्: of the good (people)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse asserts that the hallmark of truly good people is action governed by dharma while also being aligned with legitimate worldly aims (artha). Ethical life is not mere withdrawal, but principled engagement where purpose and righteousness support each other.

What is happening in the narrative?

As narrator, Vaiśampāyana offers a general observation about how the virtuous behave, framing the surrounding discussion in the Udyoga Parva with a moral lens: right action in society is recognizable by its grounding in dharma and proper aims.