Shloka 5

Devanagari script

नैव ते निछितं कर्म नैव ते शत्रवो जिता: । कथं शत्रुं शरीरस्थमात्मनो नावबुध्यसे

Transliteration

naiva te niścitaṃ karma naiva te śatravo jitāḥ | kathaṃ śatruṃ śarīrastham ātmano nāvabudhyase ||

Translation

伐由（Vāyu）说：“你尚未完成你所立誓要行的本分之业，也未真正战胜诸敌。你的敌人正坐在你自身的躯体之内——你怎会不识那属于自己的敌人？”

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• ते: of you/your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• इषितम्: desired/aimed at/intended
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इषित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• कर्म: deed/action
• कर्म: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• ते: of you/your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• शत्रवः: enemies
• शत्रवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• जिताः: conquered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कथम्: how/why
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• शत्रुम्: enemy
• शत्रुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शरीरस्थम्: situated in the body
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरीर-स्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आत्मनः: of oneself/of the self
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अवबुध्यसे: you understand/recognize
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव√बुध्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

External victories are incomplete without inner conquest. The verse urges recognition and overcoming of the ‘enemy within’—such as desire, anger, delusion, or negligence—that obstructs one’s resolved duty (niścita karma) and true success.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva addresses the listener with a corrective admonition: despite claims or efforts toward duty and victory, the real obstacle remains internal. He redirects attention from outward foes to the inward adversary lodged in one’s own body and mind.