Shloka 11
Dharma-śaṅkā-nivāraṇa: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Response on Karma-Phala and Trust in Dharma
उत्सीदेरन् प्रजा: सर्वा न कुर्यु: कर्म चेद् भुवि । तथा होता न वर्धेरन् कर्म चेदफलं भवेत्,यदि समस्त प्रजा इस भूतलपर कर्म करना छोड़ दे तो सबका संहार हो जाय। यदि कर्मका कुछ फल न हो तो इन प्रजाओंकी वृद्धि ही न हो
utsīderan prajāḥ sarvā na kuryuḥ karma ced bhuvi | tathā hotā na vardheran karma ced aphalaṃ bhavet ||
If all people on this earth were to abandon action, the whole population would sink into ruin. Likewise, if action were fruitless, the sustaining order of sacrifice (yajña) and the growth and prosperity of beings would not increase.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Action (karma), especially duty-aligned action, is necessary for the survival and flourishing of society; if actions had no results, the sacrificial and moral economy that sustains prosperity and continuity would collapse.
Yudhiṣṭhira argues against abandoning action by pointing out its societal necessity: without people performing their duties, the world falls into ruin, and if actions were truly fruitless, the institutions and processes that support growth—symbolized by the Hotṛ and sacrifice—would not function.