Shloka 20

Śreyas-nirdeśa (Discerning the Superior Good): Nārada–Gālava Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

कृतानां फलमप्राप्तं कार्याणां कर्मसज्ञिनाम्‌

Transliteration

kṛtānāṃ phalam aprāptaṃ kāryāṇāṃ karmasaṃjñinām

Translation

ภีษมะกล่าวว่า “ผลแห่งกรรมที่ได้กระทำแล้วกลับมิได้บังเกิด; และผลแห่งกิจที่ลงมือทำ—อันเป็นการกระทำที่แท้จริงชื่อว่า ‘กรรม’—ก็ยังคงไม่สำเร็จปรากฏ.”

Word by Word

• कृतानाम्: of the done (deeds)
• कृतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (कृ + क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• अप्राप्तम्: not obtained
• अप्राप्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्राप्त (प्र + आप् + क्त, नञ्-)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• कार्याणाम्: of the things to be done / duties
• कार्याणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (कृ + ण्यत्)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• कर्मसंज्ञिनाम्: of those designated as 'actions'/ritual acts
• कर्मसंज्ञिनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मसंज्ञिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the uncertainty of outcomes: even completed actions and intended duties may fail to yield their expected fruits. Ethically, it points toward steadiness in dharma and a measured attitude toward results—recognizing that effort does not always guarantee attainment.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva discourse, Bhīṣma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and conduct. Here he underscores a practical truth about human action: results may not manifest despite effort, setting the stage for counsel on perseverance, prudence, and non-attachment to outcomes.