Mahabharata 6.27.8 — Bhishma Parva, Adhyaya 27, Shloka 8
Karma-Saṃnyāsa–Karma-Yoga Saṃvāda
Renunciation and the Discipline of Action
सम्बन्ध-- अजुनने जो यह पूछा था कि आप मुझे घोर कर्ममें क्यों लगाते हैं; उसके उत्तरमें ऊपरये कर्मोका त्याग करनेवाले मिथ्याचारीकी निन््दा और कर्मयोगीकी प्रशंसा करके अब उन्हें कर्म करनेके लिये आज्ञा देते हैं-- नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो हाकर्मण: । शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्धयेदकर्मण:
niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hy akarmaṇaḥ | śarīra-yātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyed akarmaṇaḥ ||
Hỡi Arjuna, hãy làm bổn phận đã được quy định cho ngươi; hành động cao hơn không hành động. Nếu ngươi không hành động, ngay cả việc duy trì thân thể và sự tiếp nối của đời sống cũng không thể thành.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should perform one’s prescribed duty; disciplined action is ethically and practically superior to mere abstention from work, because even basic life and bodily maintenance depend on action.
In response to Arjuna’s hesitation and confusion about acting, the instruction turns him away from withdrawal and urges him to engage in rightful, regulated action—setting the groundwork for Karma Yoga in the midst of the impending battle.
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