Shloka 17

Adhyāya 262: Śabda-brahman, Para-brahman, and the Ethics of Tyāga

Kapila–Syūmaraśmi Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

विगुणं च पुन: कर्म ज्याय इत्यनुशुश्रुम

Transliteration

viguṇaṁ ca punaḥ karma jyāya ity anuśuśruma

Translation

اور پھر ہم نے یہ تعلیم بھی سنی ہے کہ اگرچہ کسی عمل میں ظاہری خوبیوں یا انجام دہی کے اعتبار سے کمی ہو، پھر بھی جب وہ دھرم اور نیک نیت کے باطنی تقاضوں کے مطابق ہو تو وہی بہتر راستہ ہوتا ہے۔

Word by Word

विगुणम्defective; lacking merit/quality

चand

पुनःagain; moreover

कर्मaction; deed; ritual act

ज्यायःbetter; superior

इतिthus (quotative)

अनुशुश्रुमwe have heard (traditionally); we heard

Speaker

चुलाधार उवाच

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse cites a traditional maxim: moral worth is not judged only by flawless performance or external excellence; an action that appears imperfect can still be superior if it aligns with dharma and is guided by right understanding and intention.

What is happening in the narrative?

Chulādhāra is continuing a didactic instruction, invoking what has been 'heard' in authoritative tradition to support a point about ethical evaluation of actions—prioritizing dharmic alignment over mere outward perfection.