Shloka 3

Nakula’s Adaptive Counsel to Kṛṣṇa in the Kuru Assembly (उद्योगपर्व, अध्याय ७८)

Devanagari script

तत्र वै पौरुषं ब्रूयुरासेकं यत्र कारितम्‌

Transliteration

tatra vai pauruṣaṁ brūyur āsekaṁ yatra kāritam

Translation

“在此事上，人们所谓真正的男子之力，正是在于确已促成其果；徒有心念与言辞，不经行动使之成真，便不算勇武。”

Word by Word

• तत्र: there; in that place/context
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• वै: indeed; surely (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• पौरुषम्: manly effort; valor; human exertion
• पौरुषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रूयुः: they should say; one should call
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (ब्रवीति)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• आसेकम्: sprinkling; pouring; irrigation
• आसेकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसेक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• कारितम्: caused to be done; made; effected
• Type: Verb
• Root: कारित (कृ धातोः णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Valor (pauruṣa) is measured by effective action—by actually bringing about what one undertakes—rather than by mere resolve, speech, or self-assertion. Ethical worth here is tied to responsibility for outcomes and the courage to translate intent into deed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna is speaking in the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, emphasizing a practical standard for heroism: people recognize true effort where a deed has been made to happen. The line supports a broader argument about decisive conduct in a dharma-charged crisis.