HITOPADESHA-5- हितोपदेशः - Good Counsels

 SUBHASHITHANI:505

FATE vs SELF-EFFORT

यथा ह्य् एकेन चक्रेण न रथस्य गतिर् भवेत् ।
तथा पुरुषकारेण विना दैवं न सिद्ध्यति ॥ ३० ॥
yathā hy ekena cakreṇa na rathasya gatir bhavet |
tathā puruṣakāreṇa vinā daivaṃ na siddhyati || 0-30 ||
The way it is not possible to move a chariot with one wheel, it is not possible to accomplish great things with mere luck, without hard work.

पूर्व-जन्म-कृतं कर्म तद् दैवम् इति कथ्यते ।
तस्मात् पुरुषकारेण यत्नं कुर्याद् अतन्द्रितः ॥ ३१ ॥
pūrva-janma-kṛtaṃ karma tad daivam iti kathyate |
tasmāt puruṣakāreṇa yatnaṃ kuryād atandritaḥ || 0-31 ||
The results of actions in previous births is known as ‘Daivam’(providence). Therefore one should work hard in this birth without relaxation and let up.

न दैवम् अपि संचिन्त्य त्यजेद् उद्योगम् आत्मनः ।
अनुद्योगेन तैलानि तिलेभ्यो नाप्तुम् अर्हति ॥ ३२ ॥
na daivam api saṃcintya tyajed udyogam ātmanaḥ |
anudyogena tailāni tilebhyo nāptum arhati || 0-32 ||
One should not abandon his efforts, believing in the fate (destiny). Without the efforts it is not possible to get oil from sesamum(thilam) seeds.

தெய்வத்தான் ஆகா தெனினும் முயற்சிதன்
மெய்வருத்தக் கூலி தரும் II Thirukkural- 619

Although it be said that, through fate, it cannot be attained, yet labour, with bodily exertion, will yield its reward.

उद्योगिनं पुरुष-सिंहम् उपैति लक्ष्मीर्
दैवेन देयम् इति कापुरुषा वदन्ति ।
दैवं निहत्य कुरु पौरुषम् आत्म-शक्त्या
यत्ने कृते यदि न सिध्यति को ऽत्र दोषः ॥ ३३ ॥
udyoginaṃ puruṣa-siṃham upaiti lakṣmīr
 daivena deyam iti kāpuruṣā vadanti |
daivaṃ nihatya kuru pauruṣam ātma-śaktyā
 yatne kṛte yadi na sidhyati ko 'tra doṣaḥ || 0-33II
Prosperity always favours men who are brave, and who work diligently. “Whatever happens is due to fate”, so say the lazy and the cowardly. One should leave the reliance on fate, and continue to work sincerely, as per one’s capabilities and talent. Even after working to the best of your ability, if there is no success , what is there to blame?

यथा मृत्-पिण्डतः कर्ता कुरुते यद् यद् इच्छति ।
एवम् आत्म-कृतं कर्म मानवः प्रतिपद्यते ॥ ३४ ॥
yathā mṛt-piṇḍataḥ kartā kurute yad yad icchati |
evam ātma-kṛtaṃ karma mānavaḥ pratipadyate || 0-34 ||
Just as a potter makes whatever he likes from a lump of clay, so does the man reap the results of his actions done by himself.

काकतालीयवत् प्राप्तं दृष्ट्वापि निधिम् अग्रतः ।

न स्वयं दैवम् आदत्ते पुरुषार्थम् अपेक्षते ॥ ३५ ॥
kākatālīyavat prāptaṃ dṛṣṭvāpi nidhim agrataḥ |
na svayaṃ daivam ādatte puruṣārtham apekṣate || 0-35 ||
Even if out of sheer luck, you find a treasure in front of you, destiny doesn’t pick it for you, your effort is expected.

उद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्ति कार्याणि न मनोरथैः ।
नहि सुप्तस्य सिंहस्य प्रविशन्ति मुखे मृगाः ॥ ३६ ॥
udyamena hi sidhyanti kāryāṇi na manorathaiḥ |
nahi suptasya siṃhasya praviśanti mukhe mṛgāḥ || 0-36 ||
Tasks are completed by industry and not by idle wishes ; No animal will enter the mouth of a sleeping lion.

माता शत्रुः पिता वैरी येन बालो न पाठितः ।
न शोभते सभा-मध्ये हंस-मध्ये बको यथा ॥ ३७ ॥
mātā śatruḥ pitā vairī yena bālo na pāṭhitaḥ |
na śobhate sabhā-madhye haṃsa-madhye bako yathā || 0-37 ||
Both the mother and father are enemies of a child if they do not educate him. He will be a misfit in any gathering - like a duck among swans.

रूप-यौवन-सम्पन्ना विशाल-कुल-सम्भवाः ।
विद्या-हीना न शोभन्ते निर्गन्धा इव किंशुकाः ॥ ३८ ॥
rūpa-yauvana-sampannā viśāla-kula-sambhavāḥ |
vidyā-hīnā na śobhante nirgandhā iva kiṃśukāḥ || 0-38 ||
A person endowed with beauty and youth and born in an illustrious family is not adorned if he is illiterate, just like the flower of a "Kimshuka" tree, which is odourless.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH