Shloka 4
Dharma-śaṅkā-nivāraṇa: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Response on Karma-Phala and Trust in Dharma
यावद्गोस्तनपानाच्च यावच्छायोपसेवनात् | जन्तव: कर्मणा वृत्तिमाप्रुवन्ति युधिष्ठिर,महाराज युधिष्ठिर! गौओंके बछड़े भी माताका दूध पीते और छायामें जाकर विश्राम करते हैं। इस प्रकार सभी जीव कर्म करके ही जीवन-निर्वाह करते हैं
yāvad gostanapānāc ca yāvac chāyopasevanāt | jantavaḥ karmaṇā vṛttim āpruvanti yudhiṣṭhira ||
Dijo Yudhiṣṭhira: «Desde que el ternero bebe la leche de su madre hasta que busca reposo en la sombra, los seres vivos sostienen su vida mediante la actividad. En este mundo, la vida se mantiene por el esfuerzo y el trabajo; nadie puede permanecer sin acción.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that sustenance (vṛtti) is gained through karma—practical effort and action. Even animals exemplify this: life proceeds by doing what is necessary, so responsible action is integral to dharma.
In the Vana Parva dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira makes an ethical point using a simple natural example (a calf nursing and resting in shade) to argue that all beings maintain life through activity, framing a broader reflection on duty and conduct.