FATE AND SELF EFFORT- GEMS FROM MAHABHARATH

 

SUBHASHITHANI:627

आबद्धा मानुषाः सर्वे निबद्धाः कर्मणोर्द्वयोः ⁠।

दैवे पुरुषकारे च परं ताभ्यां न विद्यते ⁠।⁠।⁠ 
Aabaddhaa maanushah sarve nibaddhah karmanordvayoh I
Daive purushakare cha param taabhyam na vidyate II
All human beings are bound by two types of deeds, fate (Prarabdha) and effort(Purushartha). There is nothing higher than  these two.

उत्थानं चाप्यदैवस्य ह्यनुत्थानं च दैवतम् ⁠।
 व्यर्थं भवति सर्वत्र पूर्वस्तत्र विनिश्चयः ⁠।⁠।⁠ 
Utthaanam chapya daivasya hyanutthanam cha daivatam I
Vyartham bhavati sarvatra poorvastatra vinischayah II
The effort of a man without destiny is in vain and the destiny devoid of effort also goes in vain. Of these two, destiny is superior.  (without the help of the destiny or Divine, effort does not succeed).

सुवृष्टे च यथा देवे सम्यक् क्षेत्रे च कर्षिते ⁠।

 बीजं महागुणं भूयात् तथा सिद्धिर्हि मानुषी ⁠।⁠।⁠

Suvrushte cha yathaa deve samyak kshetre cha karshite I

Bheejam mahagunam bhooyaat tathaa siddhirhi maanushi II

A seed requires both good rains and proper tilling of the soil for good harvest Similarly, all the achievements of human beings depend on both Destiny and self-effort.

தனக்கடிமை பட்டது தானறியா னேலும்
மனத்தடைய வைப்பதாம் மாலை, – வனத்திடரை
ஏரியாம் வண்ணம் இயற்று மிதுவல்லால்,
மாரியார் பெய்கிற்பார் மற்று. 2nd Thiruvandhadi

चेष्टामकुर्वल्लँभते यदि किंचिद् यदृच्छया ⁠।

यो वा न लभते कृत्वा दुर्दर्शौ तावुभावपि ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

Cheshtam akurvat labhate yadi kimchit yadruchayaa I

Yo vaa na labhate krutvaa durdarshee taavubhavapi II

It is very difficult to find both these types of people – one who achieves something by destiny without making effort or the one who does not achieve anything even after making effort.

स्वं चेत् कर्मफलं न स्यात् सर्वमेवाफलं भवेत् ⁠।

लोको दैवं समालक्ष्य उदासीनो भवेन्ननु ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

Svam chet karma phalam na syaat sarvamevaa phalam bhavet I

Loke daivam samaalakshya udaaseeno bhavet nanu II

If one does not get the result of one’s actions, then all the actions become infructuous and everyone becomes indifferent to doing actions looking at

the fate only.

यथाग्निः पवनोद्धूतः सुसूक्ष्मोऽपि महान् भवेत् ⁠।

तथा कर्मसमायुक्तं दैवं साधु विवर्धते ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

Yatha agnih pavanot dhootah sookshmopi mahaan bhavet I

Tathaa karma samaa yuktam daivam sadhu vivardhate II

Just as a small fire becomes very big with the help of air, in the same way, with the help of effort, one’s luck or destiny gets stronger.

यथा तैलक्षयाद् दीपः प्रह्रासमुपगच्छति ⁠।

तथा कर्मक्षयाद् दैवं प्रह्रासमुपगच्छति ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

Yathaa tailakshayaat deepah prahraasamupagachati I

Tathaa karma kshayaat daivam prahraasamupagachati II

Just as a lamp goes out when oil runs out, so does the destiny when the effort is exhausted.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH⁠