Anushasana Parva Adhyaya 112 Shloka 20 - Mahabharata | Chinese | Vedapath

Vyasa

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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

毗湿摩说道：正如只有力量而无有效之行，或只有行动而无力量，在此世间皆不能成就任何事业；唯有力量与行动相应相合，事业方得成功。

Word by Word

यथाjust as

बलम्strength

क्रियाहीनम्devoid of action/effort

क्रियाaction/effort

वाor

बलवर्जिताdeprived of strength

नnot

इहhere/in this world

साधयतेaccomplishes

कार्यम्task/goal

समायुक्ताproperly joined/combined

तुbut

सिध्यतिis accomplished/succeeds

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

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?

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.