Shloka 23

Dharma-śaṅkā-nivāraṇa: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Response on Karma-Phala and Trust in Dharma

Devanagari script

कारणं तस्य देहो<यं धातु: कर्मणि वर्तते । स यथा प्रेरयत्येनं तथायं कुरुतेडवश:,यह मानव-शरीर जो कर्ममें प्रवृत्त होता है, वह ईश्वरके कर्मफलसम्पादन-कार्यका साधन है। वे इसे जैसी प्रेरणा देते हैं, यह विवश होकर (स्वेच्छा--प्रारब्धभोगके लिये) वैसा ही करता है

Transliteration

kāraṇaṁ tasya deho ’yaṁ dhātuḥ karmaṇi vartate | sa yathā prerayaty enaṁ tathāyaṁ kurute ’vaśaḥ ||

Translation

Este corpo é o instrumento dessa agência superior; constituído de elementos, move-se no campo da ação. Conforme o Senhor impele alguém, assim — sem plena autonomia — ele age, compelido a suportar o que os feitos anteriores puseram em curso.

Word by Word

कारणम्cause/instrumental means

तस्यof him/of that

देहःbody

अयम्this

धातुःconstituent/element (supporting factor)

कर्मणिin action/in कर्म

वर्ततेacts/engages/exists (is engaged)

सःhe

यथाas/just as

प्रेरयतिimpels/urges

एनम्him/this one

तथाso/thus

अयम्this (one)

करुतेdoes/performs

अवशःhelpless/compelled

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

deha (the body)

Īśvara (implied as the impeller/inner ruler)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Sandhi Notes