Shloka 20

Anuśāsana-parva Adhyāya 112: Dharma as the sole companion; karmic witnesses; rebirth sequences

Bṛhaspati–Yudhiṣṭhira Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

यथा बल क्रियाहीनं क्रिया वा बलवर्जिता । नेह साधयते कार्य समायुक्ता तु सिध्यति

Transliteration

yathā bala-kriyā-hīnaṁ kriyā vā bala-varjitā | neha sādhayate kāryaṁ samāyuktā tu sidhyati ||

Translation

Wika ni Bhīṣma: Kung paanong ang lakas na walang wastong pagkilos, o ang pagkilos na walang lakas, ay hindi makapagtatapos ng anumang gawain sa mundong ito, gayon din ang isang gawain ay nagtatagumpay lamang kapag ang lakas at pagkilos ay maayos na nagkakaisa.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• क्रियाहीनम्: devoid of action/effort
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रियाहीन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• क्रिया: action/effort
• क्रिया: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• बलवर्जिता: deprived of strength
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवर्जित
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• इह: here/in this world
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• साधयते: accomplishes
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• कार्यम्: task/goal
• कार्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• समायुक्ता: properly joined/combined
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-युज्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• सिध्यति: is accomplished/succeeds
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिध्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Success in any undertaking—especially one aligned with dharma—requires the union of capability (bala) and effective effort (kriyā). Either one alone is insufficient; coordinated strength and action bring results.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing on dharma and right conduct. Here he offers a concise maxim: practical outcomes depend on harmonizing power/resources with purposeful action.