Shloka 17

Adhyāya 262: Śabda-brahman, Para-brahman, and the Ethics of Tyāga

Kapila–Syūmaraśmi Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

विगुणं च पुन: कर्म ज्याय इत्यनुशुश्रुम

Transliteration

viguṇaṁ ca punaḥ karma jyāya ity anuśuśruma

Translation

Et de nouveau nous avons entendu cet enseignement : même une action imparfaite dans ses qualités extérieures ou dans son accomplissement peut être la voie la meilleure—lorsqu’elle s’accorde aux exigences les plus profondes du dharma et à la juste intention.

Word by Word

• विगुणम्: defective; lacking merit/quality
• विगुणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगुण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पुनः: again; moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• कर्म: action; deed; ritual act
• कर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ज्यायः: better; superior
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्यायस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• अनुशुश्रुम: we have heard (traditionally); we heard
• अनुशुश्रुम: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), First, Plural, Parasmaipada

Speaker

चुलाधार उवाच

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse cites a traditional maxim: moral worth is not judged only by flawless performance or external excellence; an action that appears imperfect can still be superior if it aligns with dharma and is guided by right understanding and intention.

What is happening in the narrative?

Chulādhāra is continuing a didactic instruction, invoking what has been 'heard' in authoritative tradition to support a point about ethical evaluation of actions—prioritizing dharmic alignment over mere outward perfection.