Shloka 14

Kāmyake Arjuna-viyogaḥ — The Pandavas’ despondency in Kāmyaka during Arjuna’s absence

Devanagari script

विषमावस्थिते दैवे पौरुषेडफलतां गते । विषादयन्ति नात्मानं सत्त्वोपाश्रयिणो नरा:,जब दैव ([प्रारब्ध) प्रतिकूल हो और पुरुषार्थ निष्फल हो जाय, उस समय भी सत्त्वगगुणका आश्रय लेनेवाले मनुष्य अपने मनमें विषाद नहीं लाते

Transliteration

viṣamāvasthite daive pauruṣeḍaphalatāṁ gate | viṣādayanti nātmānaṁ sattvopāśrayiṇo narāḥ ||

Translation

Cuando el destino (daiva) se yergue en postura adversa y el esfuerzo humano queda sin fruto, quienes se amparan en el sattva—la bondad firme y clara—no dejan que la tristeza se instale en su interior.

Word by Word

विषमावस्थितेwhen (it is) in an adverse state

दैवेin fate / in destiny

पौरुषेin human effort

अफलताम्fruitlessness / failure

गतेwhen (it) has gone/come to (i.e., has become)

विषादयन्तिcause to be depressed / grieve

नnot

आत्मानम्themselves / their own self

सत्त्वोपाश्रयिणःthose who take refuge in sattva (goodness/fortitude)

नराःmen / people

Speaker

बृहदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when destiny turns adverse and one’s efforts fail, a person established in sattva (clarity and steadiness) does not succumb to inner despair; ethical strength is shown by maintaining composure amid uncontrollable outcomes.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva is instructing his listener through a reflective maxim: he contrasts hostile daiva (circumstance/fate) with fruitless pauruṣa (effort) and highlights the ideal response—steadfast, non-dejected endurance grounded in sattva.