Shloka 24

त्र्यशीतितमः सर्गः (Sarga 83)

Hanumān Reports Sītā’s ‘Slaying’; Rāma Collapses; Lakṣmaṇa’s Counter-Discourse on Dharma and Artha

Devanagari script

अदृष्टप्रतिकारेणत्वव्यक्तेनासतासता ।कथंशक्यंपरंप्राप्तुंधर्मेणारिविकर्षण ।।6.83.24।।

Transliteration

adṛṣṭa-pratikāreṇa tv-avyaktena asatā satā | kathaṃ śakyaṃ paraṃ prāptuṃ dharmeṇārivikarṣaṇa ||6.83.24||

Translation

ഹേ അരിവികർഷണാ (ശത്രുനാശക)! ധർമ്മഫലത്തിന് ദൃശ്യമായ പ്രതികാരം ഇല്ലാതെയും, അതിന്റെ സ്വരൂപം അവ്യക്തമായി സത് ആണോ അസത് ആണോ എന്ന അനിശ്ചിതത്വത്തിലുമിരിക്കെ, ധർമ്മത്തിലൂടെ പരമകല്യാണം എങ്ങനെ പ്രാപിക്കാം?

Word by Word

• अदृष्टप्रतिकारेण: by an unseen recompense/retaliation
• अदृष्टप्रतिकारेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदृष्टप्रतिकार (प्रातिपदिक; अदृष्ट + प्रतिकार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); समासः—अदृष्टः प्रतिकारः यस्य/अदृष्टः प्रतिकारः (determinative)

• त्वव्यक्तेन: by what is unclear/unknown to you
• त्वव्यक्तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक; त्वत्/त्व + अव्यक्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); समासः—त्वया अव्यक्तेन/त्वत्सम्बन्धिना अव्यक्तेन (with what is unclear to you)

• असता: by the unreal / by falsehood
• असता: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• सता: by the real / by truth
• सता: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक् (धातु) → शक्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (potential passive participle/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular)

• परम्: the highest goal / the beyond
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• प्राप्तुम्: to attain
• प्राप्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थ (purpose)

• धर्मेण: by righteousness
• धर्मेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• अरिविकर्षण: O crusher of enemies
• अरिविकर्षण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिविकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक; अरि + विकर्षण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (singular); समासः—अरिणां विकर्षणः (enemy-dragger/crusher)

Context

"O Crusher of enemies! How does righteousness get encountered? It is not seen. How to know whether it is real or unreal? Is it possible to know that the best result is attained by righteousness."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (implied by vocative arivikarṣaṇa)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse raises a skeptical challenge: if dharma’s results are not immediately visible and its truth-status seems uncertain, how can it be reliably pursued as a path to the highest good?

What is the narrative situation?

In the war setting of Yuddhakāṇḍa, a close companion of Rāma voices frustration and philosophical doubt, questioning whether dharma truly yields its promised outcomes.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral honesty and critical inquiry—speaking openly about doubt when righteousness appears unrewarded.