Shloka 39
Dharma-śaṅkā-nivāraṇa: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Response on Karma-Phala and Trust in Dharma
कर्तव्यमेव कर्मेति मनोरेष विनिश्चय: । एकान्तेन हानीहो5यं पराभवति पूरुष:,किंतु मनुका यह सिद्धान्त है कि कर्म करना ही चाहिये, जो बिलकुल कर्म छोड़कर निश्वेष्ट हो बैठ रहता है, वह पुरुष पराभवको प्राप्त होता है
kartavyam eva karmeti manor eṣa viniścayaḥ | ekāntena hānīho 'yaṃ parābhavati pūruṣaḥ |
Dijo Yudhiṣṭhira: «Ésta es la convicción asentada de Manu: hay que hacer, en verdad, lo que debe hacerse. El hombre que abandona por completo la acción y se sienta ocioso, sin hacer nada, llega a la ruina y a la derrota.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharma is upheld through purposeful action: one should perform one’s obligatory duties, and total abandonment of effort (idleness) leads to decline and defeat.
In the Vana Parva context, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a dharma-based principle by citing Manu’s authority, emphasizing that even in hardship one must not renounce rightful action and responsibility.