Shloka 23

Nirmaryāda-saṃgrāma-varṇana — The Unbounded Clash and Bhīṣma’s Rallying Presence

Devanagari script

सम्बन्ध-- जो उपर्युक्त दैवीसम्पदाका आचरण न करके अपनी मान्यताके अनुसार कर्म करता है

Transliteration

yaḥ śāstravidhim utsṛjya vartate kāmakārataḥ | na sa siddhim avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim ||

Translation

ਜੋ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਸ਼ਾਸਤਰ-ਵਿਧੀ ਨੂੰ ਤਿਆਗ ਕੇ ਕੇਵਲ ਆਪਣੀ ਇੱਛਾ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਚਲਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਨਾ ਸਿੱਧੀ ਪਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਨਾ ਸੁਖ, ਨਾ ਹੀ ਪਰਮ ਗਤੀ।

Word by Word

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शास्त्र-विधिम्: scriptural rule/ordinance
• शास्त्र-विधिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र + विधि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उत्सृज्य: having abandoned/setting aside
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + सृज्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• वर्तते: acts/conducts himself
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• काम-कारतः: from desire; as he pleases (impelled by desire)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: काम + कार
• Form: Ablatival adverb (tas)

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न
• Form: Negation

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सिद्धिम्: success/perfection (attainment)
• सिद्धिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अवाप्नोति: attains/obtains
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न
• Form: Negation

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न
• Form: Negation

• पराम्: highest/supreme
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गतिम्: goal/destination
• गतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Abandoning śāstric injunctions and acting from desire alone leads to failure in the deepest sense: no true siddhi (right attainment), no stable sukha (well-being), and no parā gati (highest end). The verse frames dharma as a necessary compass for meaningful freedom and lasting good.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Bhīṣma Parva’s battlefield discourse, the teaching contrasts disciplined, dharma-aligned conduct with impulsive, desire-driven action. The verse functions as a moral criterion: conduct must be guided by śāstra/dharma rather than personal whim to reach the highest human aims.