Shloka 25
Dharma-śaṅkā-nivāraṇa: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Response on Karma-Phala and Trust in Dharma
मनसार्थान् विनिश्ित्य पश्चात् प्राप्रोति कर्मणा । बुद्धिपूर्व स्वयं वीर पुरुषस्तत्र कारणम्,किंतु वीर! मनसे अभीष्ट वस्तुओंका निश्चय करके फिर कर्मद्वारा मनुष्य स्वयं बुद्धिपूर्वक उन्हें प्राप्त करता है। अतः पुरुष ही उसमें कारण है
manasārthān viniścitya paścāt prāpnoti karmaṇā | buddhipūrvaṁ svayaṁ vīra puruṣas tatra kāraṇam ||
Dijo Yudhiṣṭhira: «Tras determinar primero en la mente los fines deseados, el hombre los alcanza después mediante la acción. Oh héroe, obrando con deliberación e inteligencia, el propio hombre es la causa decisiva en ese asunto».
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that deliberate intention (mental resolve) must be followed by intelligent action, and that the human person is the primary causal agent in achieving outcomes—emphasizing responsibility, effort, and forethought within dharma.
In the Vana Parva dialogue context, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a reflective principle about how goals are first settled in the mind and then realized through action, addressing a ‘hero’ (vīra) as part of an ethical discussion on causality and responsibility.