Shloka 47

Kuberasaras-darśana (Bhīma beholds Kubera’s guarded lotus-lake) / कुबेरसरः-दर्शनम्

Devanagari script

स्वेभ्यश्चैव परेभ्यश्व कार्याकार्यसमुद्धवा । बुद्धि: कर्मसु विज्ञेया रिपूणां च बलाबलम्‌,बहुत-से कार्योंकी आरम्भ करते समय अपने तथा शत्रुपक्षके लोगोंसे भी यह सलाह लेनी चाहिये कि अमुक काम करनेयोग्य है या नहीं। साथ ही, शत्रुकी प्रबलता और दुर्बलताको भी जाननेका प्रयत्न करना चाहिये

Transliteration

svebhyaś caiva parebhyaś ca kāryākārya-samudbhavā | buddhiḥ karmasu vijñeyā ripūṇāṃ ca balābalam ||

Translation

凡兴举众多事业之初，当从己方亦从对方求问：此事究竟当为与否。并且还须竭力洞察敌之强弱。

Word by Word

• {'svebhyaḥ': 'from/among one’s own people

• one’s own side', 'parebhyaḥ': 'from others

• from the opposing side', 'kārya': 'what ought to be done

• a proper task', 'akārya': 'what ought not to be done

• an improper act', 'samudbhavā': 'arising from

• originating in (here: arising from deliberation on what is to be done/not done)', 'buddhiḥ': 'intelligence

• practical judgment', 'karmasu': 'in actions

• in undertakings', 'vijñeyā': 'should be known/recognized

• must be ascertained', 'ripūṇām': 'of enemies', 'bala': 'strength

• power', 'abala': 'weakness

• lack of power', 'balābalam': 'strength and weakness (comparative assessment)'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Before acting, cultivate buddhi (discernment) by consulting widely—among allies and even by learning from the opponent’s side—and by realistically assessing the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses. Ethical action (kārya) is distinguished from unethical or unwise action (akārya) through such deliberation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana continues a didactic passage in the Vana Parva, presenting principles of prudent conduct and policy: decisions should be made after counsel and after evaluating the opponent’s capacity, rather than through haste or mere confidence.