Shloka 12
अर्जुनोक्तिः—कृष्णं प्रति पुरुषकार‑कर्म‑विचारः
Arjuna’s Address to Krishna: Agency, Action, and Immediate Counsel
य एवं कृतबुद्धि: स कर्मस्वेव प्रवर्तते । नासिद्धौ व्यथते तस्य न सिद्धौ हर्षमश्लुते,जो अपनी बुद्धिमें ऐसा निश्चय करके कर्मामें ही प्रवृत्त होता है, वह फलकी सिद्धि न होनेपर दुःखी नहीं होता और फलकी प्राप्ति होनेपर भी हर्षका अनुभव नहीं करता
ya evaṁ kṛtabuddhiḥ sa karmasv eva pravartate | nāsiddhau vyathate tasya na siddhau harṣam aśnute ||
Bhīmasena dijo: «Quien así ha tomado una resolución en su mente y se entrega sólo a la acción no se aflige cuando no alcanza el éxito, ni se exalta cuando lo alcanza. Su firmeza consiste en hacer lo que debe hacerse, sin dejarse sacudir por el ascenso y la caída de los resultados.»
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches steadiness in duty: act with firm resolve, but do not let the mind be disturbed by failure or inflated by success. Ethical strength is shown by commitment to right action rather than emotional dependence on outcomes.
Bhīmasena is speaking in the Udyoga Parva during the tense lead-up to war, emphasizing a warrior’s and a righteous person’s discipline: focus on necessary action and maintain composure regardless of whether efforts immediately succeed or fail.