Shloka 52
Dharma-śaṅkā-nivāraṇa: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Response on Karma-Phala and Trust in Dharma
गुणाभावे फल न्यूनं भवत्यफलमेव च । अनारम्भे हि न फलं न गुणो दृश्यते क्वचित्,कर्मोमें किसी अंगकी कमी रह जानेपर थोड़ा फल हो सकता है। यह भी सम्भव है कि फल हो ही नहीं। परंतु कर्मका आरम्भ ही न किया जाय तब तो न कहीं फल दिखायी देगा और न कर्ताका कोई गुण (शौर्य आदि) ही दृष्टिगोचर होगा
guṇābhāve phala-nyūnaṁ bhavaty aphalam eva ca | anārambhe hi na phalaṁ na guṇo dṛśyate kvacit ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Kapag ang isang gawain ay kulang sa kinakailangang mga katangian o sangkap, maaaring lumiit ang bunga—o maaari ring wala itong ibunga. Ngunit kung hindi man lamang sisimulan ang pagkilos, wala kahit saan makikitang bunga, at hindi rin mahahayag ang kahusayan ng gumagawa—gaya ng kagitingan.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Results depend on both proper execution and the decision to act: imperfect action may yield reduced or even no results, but refusing to begin guarantees no result and prevents one’s virtues (like courage) from ever becoming evident.
Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a principle of practical dharma: initiative is indispensable. He contrasts flawed performance (which may still produce something) with total inaction (which produces nothing and reveals no personal excellence).