Shloka 44
Dharma-śaṅkā-nivāraṇa: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Response on Karma-Phala and Trust in Dharma
एकान्तेन हाानर्थो<यं वर्तते5स्मासु साम्प्रतम् । स तु नि:संशयं न स्यात् त्वयि कर्मण्यवस्थिते,इस समय हमलोगोंपर राज्यापहरणरूप भारी विपद् आ पड़ी है, यदि आप कर्म (पुरुषार्थ)-में तत्परतासे लग जाय॑ँ तो निश्चय ही यह आपत्ति टल सकती है
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | ekāntena hānārtho 'yaṃ vartate 'smāsu sāmpratam | sa tu niḥsaṃśayaṃ na syāt tvayi karmaṇy avasthite ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “A grave calamity—our loss and ruin—has, beyond doubt, fallen upon us at this very time. Yet it need not remain so: if you stand firmly established in action, in purposeful effort, then without any uncertainty this misfortune can be averted.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses that even severe misfortune can be checked when one is firmly established in karma—steadfast, purposeful action aligned with duty—rather than yielding to despair or passivity.
Yudhiṣṭhira reflects on the Pandavas’ present calamity (their ruinous predicament) and urges the addressed person to commit to decisive effort; he argues that resolute action can remove or prevent the continuation of the crisis.