Shloka 23

और्ध्वदैहिकक्रिया-शोकविलापः

Obsequies for Daśaratha and the Brothers’ Lament

Devanagari script

त्रीणि द्वन्द्वानि भूतेषु प्रवृत्तान्यविशेषतः।।।।तेषु चापरिहार्येषु नैवं भवितुमर्हसि।

Transliteration

trīṇi dvandvāni bhūteṣu pravṛttāny aviśeṣataḥ | teṣu cāparihāryeṣu naivaṃ bhavitum arhasi ||

Translation

సర్వ జీవుల్లో మూడు ద్వంద్వాలు సమానంగా ప్రవహిస్తున్నాయి; అవి తప్పించలేనివి. కనుక నీవు ఇలా కుంగిపోవడం నీకు తగదు।

Word by Word

त्रीणिthree

द्वन्द्वानिpairs of opposites

भूतेषुin beings

प्रवृत्तानिprevailing/operative

अविशेषतःwithout exception

तेषुin those (matters)

चand

अपरिहार्येषुinescapable

नnot

एवम्thus/like this

भवितुम्to be/become

अर्हसिyou ought

Context

There are three dualities - (hunger and thirst, pain and pleasure, birth and death), which are applicable to all living beings without any exception and cannot be eschewed. Therefore, it does not behove you to act in this way.

Characters & Entities

Vasiṣṭha

Bharata

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is steadiness (dhairya) grounded in truth: since life is governed by unavoidable dualities, one should act rightly rather than collapse into despair.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha counsels Bharata philosophically, reminding him that suffering and loss are universal and unavoidable.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata is urged toward fortitude and self-mastery—qualities required for dharmic leadership.