Shloka 4

अर्जुन-कर्ण-सङ्ग्रामः

Arjuna–Karna Engagement in the Cattle-Raid Aftermath

Devanagari script

आनुकूल्येन कार्याणामन्तरं संविधीयते । भारं हि रथकारस्य न व्यवस्यन्ति पण्डिता:,देश और कालकी अनुकूलता होनेसे ही कार्योका फल सिद्ध होता है। विद्वान्‌ पुरुष रथ बनानेवाले (सूत) की बातपर ही सारा भार डालकर स्वयं देश-कालका विचार किये बिना युद्ध आदिका निश्चय नहीं करते-

Transliteration

ānukūlyena kāryāṇām antaraṃ saṃvidhīyate | bhāraṃ hi rathakārasya na vyavasyanti paṇḍitāḥ |

Translation

କୃପ କହିଲେ—ଅନୁକୂଳ ପରିସ୍ଥିତି ଥିଲେ ହିଁ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟର ସତ୍ୟ ଫଳ ସିଦ୍ଧ ହୁଏ। ପଣ୍ଡିତମାନେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ଆଦିର ନିଷ୍ପତ୍ତି କରିବାବେଳେ ସମସ୍ତ ଭାର କେବଳ ସାରଥିର ପରାମର୍ଶ ଉପରେ ଛାଡ଼ି ଦିଅନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ; ସେମାନେ ନିଜେ ସମୟ ଓ ଭୂମିର ପରିସ୍ଥିତି ବିଚାର କରି ନିଷ୍କର୍ଷ କରନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

आनुकूल्येनby/through favorableness, suitability

कार्याणाम्of actions/undertakings

अन्तरम्interval, opportunity, proper occasion

संविधीयतेis arranged/settled, is determined

भारम्burden, responsibility

हिindeed, for

रथकारस्यof the chariot-maker

नnot

व्यवस्यन्तिthey decide, they resolve

पण्डिताःlearned men, wise people

Speaker

कृप उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kṛpa

rathakāra (chariot-maker/charioteer)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Sound action depends on suitability of circumstances (especially place and time). Wise leaders do not outsource responsibility to a subordinate’s opinion; they personally assess conditions before deciding, particularly in grave matters like war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛpa is offering counsel, stressing strategic and ethical prudence: decisions—implicitly about conflict—must be grounded in a careful evaluation of context rather than made rashly or by placing full responsibility on a chariot-expert’s advice.