Listen, dear one, to the wisdom that has been passed down through the ages, shining as a lamp on the path of life. It is a grave delusion to believe that someone else impels us to act, as if an outside force controls our every deed. Such a notion, when clung to in disregard of what is self-evident, is harmful and base—one should avoid those who hold it, for it leads only to confusion and downfall. In the countless dealings and activities that come and go each day, a wise person acts in accordance with the scriptures, letting go of attachment to pleasure and pain. By not straying from the unbroken boundary of scriptural conduct, all treasures, like precious gems rising from the depths of the ocean, naturally come to such a one. The sages have taught that true human effort is single-minded striving toward one’s own purpose, guided by the light of scripture. When action is vibrant and dynamic, it naturally fulfills its aim, and this energy is sharpened by the intellect—especially 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 realized this are the true teachers and living scriptures, worthy of service and reverence. If what is called “destiny” is nothing but the result of previous effort, then the term is acceptable. But the foolish, imagining destiny as something else, have brought about their own ruin. Always, it is one’s own effort that brings benefit in this world and the next. Just as yesterday’s wrong actions can be replaced by today’s good deeds, so too can previous actions be overcome. Therefore, strive always to be a doer of noble acts. The fruit of effort is as clear and tangible as holding an amla fruit in your palm. Yet the foolish, ignoring what is obvious, sink into the delusion of destiny. Destiny, when imagined as something apart from cause and effect, is unreal and should be disregarded. O auspicious one, rely upon your own effort. The results produced by scriptures, noble conduct, and established customs grow slowly over time; when their fruit shines in the heart, the mind seeks nothing else, and all faculties follow—this is true effort. Having realized that the fruit of effort is indeed attained through human endeavor, one should always engage in personal effort. The highest fulfillment is then to be attained by serving true scriptures, virtuous people, and the wise. With a mind that skillfully examines both destiny and personal effort, one should always act through one’s own effort; those who do so find that the pursuit of serving noble people is always victorious. This living being, bound by the chain of birth, is afflicted by disease and suffering. Realizing this, one should employ natural human effort for success. Let peace be attained through the unfailing supreme medicine: the company of contented and truly wise people. Having obtained a body free from disease and only lightly touched by affliction, one should strive to establish oneself so that there is no further rebirth. Whoever wishes to transcend destiny through personal effort, here and hereafter, will attain all that is truly desired. Those who abandon all effort and devote themselves only to fate bring about the destruction of righteousness, wealth, and enjoyment—they are their own enemies. The movement of consciousness, the movement of the mind, and the movement of the senses—these are the very forms of human effort, and from these, results arise. As is the awareness in the mind, so is the inner movement that arises; the body then acts accordingly, and thus the results are experienced. From childhood onward, everywhere and in every way, it is evident that destiny is never seen—human effort alone prevails. By human effort, Bṛhaspati became the guru of the gods; by human effort, Śukra attained the position of guru to the lords of the demons. Even those noble ones who were once afflicted by misery, poverty, and suffering attained a status equal to Indra by their own effort and diligence. Likewise, those who were wealthy and surrounded by wonders, through the fault of their own actions, fell to 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—all affirm everywhere that it is human effort, not destiny, that prevails. When the mind is seized by unwholesome things, one should quickly bring it back to wholesome things 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, as the teachers have declared. As my effort increases, so does the result come quickly; the fruit is received 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 who suffer. The sequence of effort is always established by direct perception and other means of knowledge; in this world, results—such as traveling to distant lands—are seen to arise from effort. The one who eats is satisfied, not the one who does not; the one who goes reaches, not the one who stays; the one who speaks is heard, not the one who is silent—thus, effort bears fruit for people. Those of clear understanding overcome great difficulties by effort, not by remaining silent and inactive. Whoever makes effort in whatever way, he alone receives the corresponding result; no result is attained by anyone who merely remains idle. By virtuous human effort, a virtuous result is obtained; by non-virtuous effort, a non-virtuous result—thus, O Rama, do as you wish. The attainment of the fruit of human effort here depends on place and time; whether attained after a long period or quickly, that is what is called fate. Fate is not seen by perception, nor is it situated in another world; what is called “fate” is, in this world, simply the result of one’s own actions. A person is born, grows, and then declines; in all this, fate is not seen—whether in childhood, youth, or old age. Traveling from one place to another, holding objects in the hand, and the movement of limbs—all these occur through personal effort, not by fate. The wise describe as “personal effort” the single-minded pursuit of actions that bring about desired results; by this, everything is attained. Thus, let the truth be known: it is by your own effort, guided by wisdom and virtue, that you shape your destiny and attain the highest good.