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Shloka 9

Dharma-śaṅkā-nivāraṇa: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Response on Karma-Phala and Trust in Dharma

स्वकर्म कुरु मा ग्लासी: कर्मणा भव दंशित: । कृतं हि योडभिजानाति सहस्ने सो5स्ति नास्ति च,अतः आप अपना कर्म करें। उसमें ग्लानि न करें, कर्मका कवच पहने रहें। जो कर्म करना अच्छी तरह जानता है, ऐसा मनुष्य हजारोंमें एक भी है या नहीं? यह बताना कठिन है

svakarma kuru mā glāsiḥ, karmaṇā bhava daṃśitaḥ | kṛtaṃ hi yo ’bhijānāti, sahasre sa ’sti nāsti ca ||

Gawin mo ang sarili mong tungkulin; huwag lumubog sa pagsisisi at paninisi sa sarili. Maging sandata at panangga mo ang matatag na pagkilos mismo. Sapagkat ang taong tunay na nakauunawa kung ano ang dapat gawin at kung ano ang nagawa na—sa libo-libo ay halos hindi matagpuan; mahirap pang sabihin kung siya’y umiiral nga.

स्वकर्मone's own duty/work
स्वकर्म:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootस्वकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कुरुdo (you)
कुरु:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormImperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada
माdo not
मा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमा
ग्लासीःbe despondent / feel dejection
ग्लासीः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootग्ला
FormAorist (injunctive/imperative sense with मा), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada
कर्मणाby/with action
कर्मणा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
भवbe (you)
भव:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormImperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada
दंशितःarmored/protected (as if with a cuirass)
दंशितः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदंशित
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कृतम्what is done; deed
कृतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकृत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
यःwho
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभिजानातिknows well/recognizes
अभिजानाति:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-ज्ञा
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सहस्रेषुamong thousands
सहस्रेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसहस्र
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
अस्तिis/exists
अस्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अस्तिis/exists
अस्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root

युधिछिर उवाच

Y
Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

The verse urges steadfast performance of one’s own duty without self-reproach or paralysis. Action aligned with dharma becomes a kind of armor, and true clarity about right action is rare—so one should act sincerely rather than be consumed by doubt.

In the Vana Parva context, Yudhiṣṭhira counsels a duty-centered, resilient mindset: instead of lamenting or hesitating, one should commit to rightful action, acknowledging that perfect certainty about action is uncommon.