Shloka 10

Devanagari script

अन्यथा वर्तमानस्य नासौ वृत्ति: प्रकल्प्यते । कर्मणा वर्धते धर्मो यथाधर्मस्तथैव सः:,जो ब्राह्मण इसके विपरीत आचरण करता है, उसके लिये ब्राह्मणोचित वृत्तिकी व्यवस्था नहीं की जाती। कर्मसे ही धर्मकी वृद्धि होती है। जो जिस प्रकारके धर्मको अपनाता है, वह वैसा ही हो जाता है

Transliteration

anyathā vartamānasya nāsau vṛttiḥ prakalpyate | karmaṇā vardhate dharmo yathādharmas tathaiva saḥ ||

Translation

Bagi seseorang yang berkelakuan bertentangan dengan yang wajar, tidak patut ditetapkan baginya cara mencari nafkah yang sesuai bagi seorang Brahmin. Dharma berkembang melalui perbuatan; dan apa jua jenis dharma—atau adharma—yang diamalkan seseorang, kepada sifat itulah dirinya dibentuk.

Word by Word

अन्यथाotherwise, differently

वर्तमानस्यof one who is acting/behaving (in a certain way)

नnot

असौthat person (he)

वृत्तिःconduct; mode of life; livelihood

प्रकल्प्यतेis arranged/ordained

कर्मणाby action; through deeds

वर्धतेgrows; increases

धर्मःdharma; righteousness

यथाas; in whatever manner

अधर्मःunrighteousness; adharma

तथाso; in that manner

एवindeed; just

सःhe

Speaker

इन्द्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

Indra

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is not merely a label or birth-based claim; it is strengthened by concrete action. A person becomes shaped by the kind of dharma (or adharma) he repeatedly practices, and improper conduct disqualifies one from being assigned a ‘proper’ or sanctioned mode of life.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra is instructing about ethical conduct and the principle that one’s status and rightful livelihood depend on behavior. He emphasizes that actions cultivate dharma, and habitual adherence to dharma or adharma transforms the person accordingly.