Shloka 24

Parāśara’s Counsel on बुद्धि (Discernment), Karma-Consequences, and Avoidance of Pāpānubandha Actions

Devanagari script

मा कार्षी: कश्मलं शक्र कश्चिदेवेतरो यथा । आर्या युद्धे मतिं कृत्वा जहि शत्रून्‌ सुराधिप

Transliteration

mā kārṣīḥ kaśmalaṁ śakra kaścid evetaro yathā | āryā yuddhe matiṁ kṛtvā jahi śatrūn surādhipa ||

Translation

婆悉吒说道：“释迦啊，莫如凡夫一般陷入怯懦与心志崩塌。诸天之主啊，当以高贵的决意立于战阵，击灭你的仇敌。”

Word by Word

• मा: do not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा
• Form: Prohibitive particle used with injunctive/imperative sense

• कार्षीः: you should do / do (in prohibition: do not do)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (करणे)
• Form: Aorist (luṅ), 2nd person singular, parasmaipada (prohibitive with मा)

• कश्मलम्: faint-heartedness, cowardice, confusion
• कश्मलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्मल
• Form: Neuter, accusative singular

• शक्र: O Śakra (Indra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, vocative singular

• कश्चित्: someone, any person
• कश्चित्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: कश्चित्
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: Emphatic particle

• इतरः: other, ordinary (one)
• इतरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• यथा: as, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा
• Form: Comparative particle

• आर्याः: noble ones
• आर्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य
• Form: Masculine, nominative plural

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, locative singular

• मतिम्: intention, resolve, understanding
• मतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति
• Form: Feminine, accusative singular

• कृत्वा: having made (having resolved)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (करणे)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), indeclinable; 'having done/made'

• जहि: slay
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (हिंसायाम्)
• Form: Imperative (loṭ), 2nd person singular, parasmaipada

• शत्रून्: enemies
• शत्रून्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, accusative plural

• सुराधिप: O lord of the gods
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुराधिप
• Form: Masculine, vocative singular

• इन्द्र: O Indra
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, vocative singular

Speaker

वसिष्ठ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Śakra (Indra)
• Indra
• enemies (śatravaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A leader must not succumb to kaśmala—paralyzing dejection or cowardly confusion. One should adopt āryā mati, a noble and duty-aligned resolve, and act decisively against threats.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasiṣṭha addresses Indra (Śakra), urging him not to behave like an ordinary, fearful person. He exhorts Indra, as lord of the gods, to steady his mind for battle and defeat his enemies.