Shloka 17
Adhyāya 262: Śabda-brahman, Para-brahman, and the Ethics of Tyāga
Kapila–Syūmaraśmi Saṃvāda
Devanagari script
विगुणं च पुन: कर्म ज्याय इत्यनुशुश्रुम
Transliteration
viguṇaṁ ca punaḥ karma jyāya ity anuśuśruma
Translation
विगुणं च पुनः कर्म ज्याय इत्यनुशुश्रुम।
Word by Word
विगुणम्defective; lacking merit/quality
विगुणम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootविगुण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
पुनःagain; moreover
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
कर्मaction; deed; ritual act
कर्म:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ज्यायःbetter; superior
ज्यायः:
TypeAdjective
Rootज्यायस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
इतिthus (quotative)
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
अनुशुश्रुमwe have heard (traditionally); we heard
अनुशुश्रुम:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु
FormPerfect (Paroksha), First, Plural, Parasmaipada
Speaker
चुलाधार उवाच
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
The verse cites a traditional maxim: moral worth is not judged only by flawless performance or external excellence; an action that appears imperfect can still be superior if it aligns with dharma and is guided by right understanding and intention.
Chulādhāra is continuing a didactic instruction, invoking what has been 'heard' in authoritative tradition to support a point about ethical evaluation of actions—prioritizing dharmic alignment over mere outward perfection.