Listen, dear one, to the wisdom revealed about the power of effort and the nature of destiny. Time moves in a ceaseless dance: the present destroys the past, yet the past, too, presses upon the present. Amidst this constant struggle, it is the steady effort of a person who remains undisturbed that emerges victorious. Of these two—past and present—the present holds greater strength than what is merely visible, and thus, with effort, fate itself can be overcome, just as a youth subdues a child. Consider a year's harvest, won through toil, swept away by a sudden cloudburst. Even then, when one exerts greater effort to influence the very clouds, that effort prevails. And when wealth, painstakingly gathered, slips away, one should not be distressed, for what is the use of lamentation where strength has no power? To grieve over what cannot be accomplished is the mark of one who forgets the certainty of death. All the conditions of the world—place, time, action, and materials—arise according to their own natures. Yet, one who exerts greater effort prevails over them all. Therefore, rely on your own effort, and through the guidance of true scriptures and the company of the good, purify your understanding and cross the vast ocean of worldly existence. Both past and present pursuits of human aims are like trees that bear fruit, but the present pursuit surpasses and prevails over the other. He who does not dispel the insignificance of past actions by performing good deeds remains ignorant and powerless over the joys and sorrows of mind and speech. But one who possesses noble wonder and lives with good conduct departs from the delusion of the world as a lion leaves its cage. The belief that “someone else impels me to act thus” is a harmful delusion. Whoever clings to this view, abandoning what is evident, should be shunned as base. Among the countless transactions of life, one should act according to the scriptures, having abandoned attachment to pleasure and pain. For one who does not abandon the unbroken boundary of scriptural conduct, all treasures arise as if from the ocean. The wise have described single-minded effort toward one’s own purpose as true human endeavor, and this succeeds when guided by scripture. When action is vibrant and dynamic, it naturally accomplishes its purpose; this is sharpened by intellect through the company of the virtuous and the study of true scriptures. The wise know the supreme reality as endless, equal bliss; those who have fully attained this are the true teachers and scriptures to be served. If previous effort is referred to as “destiny,” then so be it; in this context, we do not reject that name. But destiny, as imagined by the foolish as something other than their own past effort, has led many to ruin. Always, it is one’s own effort that brings benefit in both this world and the next. Just as yesterday’s wrong actions are replaced by today’s good deeds, so too are previous actions overcome; therefore, strive to be a doer of noble acts. The fruit of effort is as clearly seen as an amla fruit in one’s palm, yet the foolish, ignoring what is obvious, sink into the delusion of destiny. Destiny, conceived by one’s own imagination and devoid of all cause and effect, should be disregarded as unreal. O one of auspicious intent, rely on the effort of your own self. The result produced by scriptures, noble conduct, and established customs grows over a long time; when it shines in the heart, the mind seeks nothing else, and all faculties follow—this is called true effort. Having realized that the fruit of effort is indeed attained through human endeavor, one should always engage in personal effort. Thereafter, supreme fulfillment is attained by serving true scriptures, virtuous people, and the wise. With a mind that skillfully examines destiny and personal effort, one should always act with one’s own effort; thus, those who are so inclined always succeed in serving noble people. This living being, bound in the chain of birth and afflicted by disease, should recognize this and employ natural human effort for success. Let him attain peace through the unfailing supreme medicine, which is the company of the contented and truly wise. Having obtained a body free from disease and only lightly touched by affliction, one should so establish oneself that there is no further rebirth. Whoever wishes to transcend destiny through personal effort, both here and hereafter, will attain all that is fully desired. Those who, abandoning all effort, remain devoted only to fate—such self-hating ones destroy righteousness, wealth, and enjoyment. The movement of consciousness, the movement of mind, and the movement of the senses—these are the forms of human effort, and from these arise results. As is the awareness in the mind, so is the inner movement that arises; likewise, the body acts accordingly, and thus comes the experience of results. From childhood, this is evident in every way: destiny is never seen anywhere; therefore, human effort prevails. By human effort, Bṛhaspati became the guru of the gods, and by human effort, Śukra attained the position of guru to the lords of the demons. Even those noble and excellent people who were afflicted by misery, poverty, and suffering have, through their own effort and diligence, attained a status equal to that of Indra. Those great ones who were wealthy and surrounded by wonders, through the fault of their own actions, have reached the state of guests in hell. Among thousands of existences and in various conditions, the states of living beings arise solely according to their own effort. Whether established by scripture, by a teacher, or by oneself—these threefold confirmations—everywhere it is human effort, never destiny, that is affirmed. When the mind is seized by unwholesome things, one should quickly bring it back to wholesome pursuits through effort—this is the essence of all the scriptures. Whatever is truly beneficial, not trivial, and free from harm—practice that diligently, my son; thus have the teachers declared. Just as effort increases, so does the result come quickly; thus, one receives the fruit solely from one’s own exertion, not from fate. Success is seen through effort; effort is the path of the wise. Fate is merely a consolation for those with weak minds in suffering. Thus, let the wise rely on their own effort, guided by true scriptures and the company of the good, and cross beyond the ocean of worldly existence into the peace that is supreme.