Hexagram 42 益, Line 3
益
Hexagram 42 · third line, divided (six)
益之用凶事，无咎。有孚中行，告公用圭。
The third line, divided, shows increase given to its subject by means of what is evil, so that he shall (be led to good), and be without blame. Let him be sincere and pursue the path of the Mean, (so shall he secure the recognition of the ruler, like) an officer who announces himself to his prince by the symbol of his rank.
James Legge (1882), public domain.
Small image (小象)
益用凶事，固有之也。
If only this line changes, hexagram 42 becomes hexagram 37.
← Hexagram 42 益: judgment and all lines
Character glossary
- 益yìto profit, to benefit; advantage
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 用yòngto use, to employ, to apply; use
- 凶xiōngculprit; murder; bad, sad
- 事shìaffair, matter, business; to serve; acci
- 无wúno, not; lacking, -less
- 咎jiùfault, defect; error, mistake
- 有yǒuto have, to own, to possess; to exist
- 孚fúto brood over eggs; to have confidence
- 中zhōngcentral; center, middle; amidst; to hit
- 行xíngto go, to walk, to move; professional
- 告gàoto tell, to inform, to announce; to accu
- 公gōngfair, equitable; public; duke
- 圭guījade tablet
- 固gùto solidify; strength
- 也yěalso, too
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0); Chinese Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.