Shloka 47

Kuberasaras-darśana (Bhīma beholds Kubera’s guarded lotus-lake) / कुबेरसरः-दर्शनम्

Devanagari script

स्वेभ्यश्चैव परेभ्यश्व कार्याकार्यसमुद्धवा । बुद्धि: कर्मसु विज्ञेया रिपूणां च बलाबलम्‌,बहुत-से कार्योंकी आरम्भ करते समय अपने तथा शत्रुपक्षके लोगोंसे भी यह सलाह लेनी चाहिये कि अमुक काम करनेयोग्य है या नहीं। साथ ही, शत्रुकी प्रबलता और दुर्बलताको भी जाननेका प्रयत्न करना चाहिये

Transliteration

svebhyaś caiva parebhyaś ca kāryākārya-samudbhavā | buddhiḥ karmasu vijñeyā ripūṇāṃ ca balābalam ||

Translation

Начиная многие предприятия, с самого начала следует спрашивать совета и у своих, и даже у противной стороны: стоит ли это дело совершать или нет. И вместе с тем нужно стремиться узнать силу и слабость врага.

Word by Word

{'svebhyaḥ''from/among one’s own people

one’s own side', 'parebhyaḥ''from others

from the opposing side', 'kārya''what ought to be done

a proper task', 'akārya''what ought not to be done

an improper act', 'samudbhavā''arising from

originating in (herearising from deliberation on what is to be done/not done)', 'buddhiḥ': 'intelligence

practical judgment', 'karmasu''in actions

in undertakings', 'vijñeyā''should be known/recognized

must be ascertained', 'ripūṇām''of enemies', 'bala': 'strength

power', 'abala''weakness

lack of power', 'balābalam''strength and weakness (comparative assessment)'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Before acting, cultivate buddhi (discernment) by consulting widely—among allies and even by learning from the opponent’s side—and by realistically assessing the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses. Ethical action (kārya) is distinguished from unethical or unwise action (akārya) through such deliberation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana continues a didactic passage in the Vana Parva, presenting principles of prudent conduct and policy: decisions should be made after counsel and after evaluating the opponent’s capacity, rather than through haste or mere confidence.