Mahabharata Shanti Parva – कर्म चात्महितं कार्यं तीक्ष्णं वा यदि वा मृदु

Shloka (श्लोक)

कर्म चात्महितं कार्यं तीक्ष्णं वा यदि वा मृदु
गरस्यते ऽकर्म शीलस तु सदानर्थैर अकिंचनः

⚡ Quick Meaning

Action that is beneficial to the self, whether harsh or gentle, is better than inaction, which is full of negative outcomes.

Translations

English Translation

This shloka emphasizes that performing a self-beneficial task, regardless of its difficulty, is far superior to inaction, which brings about continuous negativity and loss.

हिंदी अनुवाद

यह श्लोक इस बात पर जोर देता है कि आत्महित के लिए किया गया कार्य, चाहे वह कठोर हो या मृदु, निष्क्रियता से बेहतर है। निष्क्रियता निरंतर नकारात्मकता और हानि लाती है।

Commentary

Context

Coming from the Shanti Parva, this verse highlights the value of action and the high costs associated with inertia in the welfare of an individual.

Meaning

The fundamental teaching is that even challenging actions are preferable as they contribute toward personal wellbeing, unlike idleness which leads to loss.

Application

This encourages proactive engagement in worthy tasks that improve one’s life, reinforcing the importance of taking action.