Shloka 40

Dharma-śaṅkā-nivāraṇa: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Response on Karma-Phala and Trust in Dharma

Devanagari script

कुर्वतों हि भवत्येव प्रायेणेह युधिष्ठिर । एकान्तफलसिद्धि तु न विन्दत्यलस: क्वचित्‌,(इसलिये मेरा तो कहना यह है कि) महाराज युधिष्ठिर! कर्म करनेवाले पुरुषको यहाँ प्राय: फलकी सिद्धि प्राप्त होती ही है। परंतु जो आलसी है, जिससे ठीक-ठीक कर्तव्यका पालन नहीं हो पाता, उसे कभी फलकी सिद्धि नहीं प्राप्त होती

Transliteration

kurvato hi bhavaty eva prāyeṇeha yudhiṣṭhira | ekāntaphalasiddhiṁ tu na vindaty alasaḥ kvacit ||

Translation

O Yudhiṣṭhira, in this world success in results generally comes to the one who acts. But the lazy person—who fails to carry out duty as it should be—never attains the sure accomplishment of the desired fruit.

Word by Word

• {'kurvataḥ': 'of one who is doing/acting

• of the doer (genitive singular)', 'hi': 'indeed, for', 'bhavati eva': 'certainly comes to be

• surely occurs', 'prāyeṇa': 'for the most part, generally', 'iha': 'here

• in this world', 'yudhiṣṭhira': 'Yudhiṣṭhira (addressed vocatively)', 'ekānta': 'exclusive, definite, assured', 'phala': 'fruit

• outcome', 'siddhi': 'attainment

• success', 'ekāntaphalasiddhim': 'sure/definite attainment of the result', 'tu': 'but, however', 'na vindati': 'does not find

• does not obtain', 'alasaḥ': 'the lazy person

• one who is indolent', 'kvacit': 'ever

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that purposeful action is the usual means to attain results, while laziness—manifesting as failure to perform one’s duty properly—blocks success. It emphasizes karma (effort) aligned with dharma (right conduct) as the practical path to achievement.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Vana Parva context, Yudhiṣṭhira is being addressed with counsel that urges him toward disciplined effort and proper performance of duty, contrasting the fruitful path of action with the futility of indolence.