Shloka 16

लक्ष्मणोपदेशः

Lakshmana Consoles Rama on Fate, Fortitude, and Right Action

Devanagari script

अदृष्टगुणदोषाणामध्रुवाणां तु कर्मणाम्।नान्तरेण क्रियां तेषां फलमिष्टं प्रवर्तते।।3.66.16।।

Transliteration

adṛṣṭaguṇadoṣāṇām adhruvāṇāṃ tu karmaṇām |

nāntareṇa kriyāṃ teṣāṃ phalam iṣṭaṃ pravartate || 3.66.16 ||

Translation

若行事不察功德与过失，且心志不定，则不经正当而有方向的努力，所愿之果终不现前。正果须由正知与正行而成。

Word by Word

• adṛṣṭaguṇadoṣāṇām: of (those) unaware of merits and faults
• adṛṣṭaguṇadoṣāṇām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √dṛś, क्त) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘whose merits and faults are unseen/unknown’), विशेषण (karmaṇām)

• adhruvāṇām: of unstable (ones)
• adhruvāṇām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषण (karmaṇām)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• karmaṇām: of actions/deeds
• karmaṇām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध

• antareṇa: without
• antareṇa: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antareṇa (अव्यय)
• Form: उपपद-योगे अव्यय; विना/without (governs accusative)

• kriyām: action/effort
• kriyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; antareṇa-योगे कर्मवत् (accusative object of ‘without’)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• phalam: result
• phalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• iṣṭam: desired/good
• iṣṭam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (कृदन्त; √iṣ/√yaj? here ‘desired’, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (phalam)

• pravartate: arises/ensues
• pravartate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

Good results are not expected from the actions of persons who cannot distinguish between their virtues and vices, from those who are unstable in their deeds.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Karma (action)
• Phala (result)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is disciplined, informed action: good outcomes require discernment of right/wrong and steady effort, not confused or wavering conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana pushes Rama from paralysis to purposeful action, stressing that only deliberate effort can lead to recovering Sita.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast initiative (utsāha) guided by discernment: acting decisively with clarity rather than fluctuating in grief.