पौरुषेणैव यत्नेन ललनावलनाकृतिम् । शरीरी कश्चिद् एवेह गतश् चन्द्रार्धचूडताम्
It is only through personal effort that someone, possessing a body shaped by the play of feminine grace, attains the status of one adorned with the crescent moon.
प्राक्तनं चैहिकं चेति द्विविधं विद्धि पौरुषम् । प्राक्तनो ऽद्यतनेनाशु पुरुषार्थेन जीयते
Know that effort is of two kinds: previous and present; the former is quickly overcome by the latter, through purposeful action.
यत्नवद्भिर् दृढाभ्यासैः प्रज्ञोत्साहसमन्वितैः । मेरवो ऽपि निगीर्यन्ते कैव प्राक्पौरुषे कथा
Even mountains are swallowed by those who strive with steadfast practice, endowed with wisdom and enthusiasm; what then of the talk about previous effort?
शास्त्रनियन्त्रितपौरुषपरमा पुरुषस्य पुरुषता या स्यात् । अभिमतफलभरसिद्ध्यै भवति हि सान्या त्व् अनर्थाय
The highest human excellence is that which is guided by scripture-directed effort; for the fulfillment of desired results, it is beneficial, but otherwise, it leads to harm.
कस्याञ्चित् स्वयम् आत्मदुस्स्थितिवशात् पुंसो दशायां शनैर् अङ्गुल्यग्रनिपीडितैकचुलुकाद् आचामबिन्दुर् बहुः । कस्याञ्चिज् जलराशिपर्वतपुरद्वीपान्तरालङ्कृता कर्तव्योचितसंविभागकरणे पृथ्वी न पृथ्वी भवेत्
For someone, due to the instability of their own self, in a certain state, a single drop of water pressed from the tip of a finger may seem abundant; for another, when the earth is adorned with oceans, mountains, cities, and islands, it may not suffice for the proper distribution of duties, and the earth ceases to be earth.
प्रवृत्तिर् एवं प्रथमं यथाशास्त्रं विहारिणाम् । प्रभेव वर्णभेदानां साधनी सर्वकर्मणाम्
Action, according to scripture, is the first step for those who live in the world; it is like the radiance among the colors, the means for all deeds.
मनसा वाञ्छ्यते यत् तु यथाशास्त्रं न कर्मणा । साध्यते मत्तलीलासौ मोहनी नार्थसाधनी
Whatever is desired in the mind but not acted upon according to scripture, is fulfilled as the play of the intoxicated, enchanting but not productive of results.
यथा सञ्चेत्यते येन तथा तेनानुभूयते । स्वकर्मैवेति वास्त्व् अन्या व्यतिरिक्ता न दैवदृक्
As one conceives, so one experiences; one's own action alone is real, and nothing else, not even fate, is distinct.
उच्छास्त्रं शास्त्रितं चेति पौरुषं द्विविधं स्मृतम् । तत्रोच्छास्त्रम् अनर्थाय परमार्थाय शास्त्रितम्
Human effort is said to be of two kinds: that which is unregulated and that which is guided by scripture. Of these, unregulated effort leads to harm, while effort guided by scripture leads to the highest good.
द्वौ हुडाव् इव युध्येते पुरुषार्थौ समासमौ । आत्मीयश् चान्यदीयश् च जयत्य् अतिबलस् तयोः
Just as two wrestlers contend, so do the two forms of human effort—one belonging to oneself, the other to another. Among them, the stronger always prevails.
अनर्थः प्राप्यते यत्र शास्त्रिताद् अपि पौरुषात् । अनर्थकर्तुर् बलवत् तत्र ज्ञेयं स्वपौरुषम्
Where harm arises even from effort guided by scripture, one should recognize that the harm-doer's own effort is stronger in that case.
परं पौरुषम् आश्रित्य दन्तैर् दन्तान् विचूर्णयन् । शुभेनाशुभम् उद्युक्तः प्राक्तनं पौरुषं जयेत्
Relying on superior effort, one grinds teeth against teeth; by engaging good against evil, one can overcome previous effort with present effort.
प्राक्तनः पुरुषार्थो ऽसौ मां नियोजयतीति धीः । बलाद् अधस्पदीकार्या प्रत्यक्षाद् अधिका न सा
The thought, 'My previous effort compels me,' should be forcibly set aside; it is not greater than direct, present action.
तावत् तावत् प्रयत्नेन यतितव्यं स्वपौरुषम् । प्राक्तनं पौरुषं यावद् अशुभं शाम्यति स्वयम्
One must persistently strive with one's own effort until previous effort, which is evil, subsides on its own.
दोषश् शाम्यत्य् असन्देहं प्राक्तनो ऽद्यतनैर् गुणैः । दृष्टान्तो ऽत्र ह्यस्तनस्य दोषस्याद्यगुणैः क्षयः
Without doubt, a fault subsides when present virtues overcome previous faults; the example is that yesterday's fault is destroyed by today's virtues.
असद्दैवम् अधः कृत्वा नित्यम् उद्युक्तया धिया । संसारोत्तरणं भूत्यै यतेताधातुम् आत्मनि
Casting aside false fate, one should always strive with determined mind to establish in oneself the means for crossing over worldly existence and attaining prosperity.
न गन्तव्यम् अनुद्योगैस् साम्यं पुरुषगर्दभैः । उद्योगस् तु यथाशास्त्रं लोकद्वितयसिद्धये
One should not pursue equality with men and donkeys through inaction; rather, effort should be made according to scripture for the attainment of both worlds.
संसारकुहराद् अस्मान् निर्गन्तव्यं स्वयं बलात् । पौरुषं यत्नम् आश्रित्य हरिणेवारिपञ्जरात्
We must forcefully escape from the cavern of worldly existence, relying on personal effort, like a deer breaking free from a water cage.
प्रत्यहं प्रत्यवेक्षेत नरश् चरितम् आत्मनः । सन्त्यजेत् पशुभिस् तुल्यं श्रयेत् सत्पुरुषोचितम्
Each day, a person should examine their own conduct, abandon what is like that of beasts, and adopt what is fitting for noble people.
किञ्चित् कान्तान्नपानादिकलिलं कोमलं गृहे । व्रणे कीट इवास्वाद्य वयः कार्यं न भस्मसात्
A little enjoyment of pleasant food and drink at home is delicate, but like a worm savoring a wound, one's youth should not be wasted to ashes.
शुभेन पौरुषेणाशु शुभम् आसाद्यते फलम् । अशुभेनाशुभं नित्यं दैवं नाम न किञ्चन
Through noble effort, a noble result is quickly attained; through ignoble effort, ignoble results always follow. 'Fate' is nothing at all.
प्रत्यक्षदृष्टम् उत्सृज्य यो ऽनुमानमनास् त्व् असौ । स्वभुजाभ्याम् इमौ सर्पाव् इति प्रेक्ष्य पलायताम्
Abandoning direct perception for mere inference, one who does not use his own arms, seeing these two snakes, flees.
दैवं सम्प्रेरयति माम् इति मुग्धधियां मुखम् । अदृष्टश्रेष्ठदृष्टीनां दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मीर् निवर्तते
The phrase 'fate impels me' is the mark of the foolish; when the best of unseen causes is perceived, fortune departs.
तस्मात् पुरुषयत्नेन विवेकं पूर्णम् आश्रयेत् । आत्मज्ञानमयार्थानि शास्त्राणि प्रविचारयेत्
Therefore, one should fully rely on discernment through personal effort, and examine scriptures whose meaning is rooted in self-knowledge.
चित्ते चिन्तयताम् अर्थं यथाशास्त्रं निजेहितैः । असंसाधयताम् एव मूढानां धिग् दुरीप्सितम्
When people ponder an objective in their minds, following the scriptures and their own efforts, yet fail to accomplish it, such misguided ones are to be reproached for their ill-conceived aims.
पौरुषं च न चानन्तं न यन् नामाभिवाञ्छ्यते । न यत्नेनापि महता तैलम् आसाद्यते ऽश्मनः
Human effort is not boundless, nor is everything one desires attainable; just as, even with great exertion, oil cannot be extracted from a stone.
यथा घटः परिमितो यथा परिमितः पटः । नियतः परिमाणस्थः पुरुषार्थस् तथैव वः
Just as a pot has a fixed size, and a cloth too is limited, so too is the scope of human endeavor always confined within set bounds.
स च शास्त्रार्थसत्सङ्गसमाचारैर् निजं फलम् । ददातीति स्वभावो ऽयम् अन्यथानर्थसिद्धये
And this fruit of human effort is indeed produced by proper conduct, association with the wise, and understanding of scripture; this is its nature, otherwise it leads only to misfortune.
स्वरूपं पौरुषस्यैतद् एवं व्यवहरन् नरः । याति निष्फलयत्नत्वं न कदाचन कश्चन
Thus, when a person acts in accordance with the true nature of human effort, no one ever becomes fruitless in their striving.
दैन्यदारिद्र्यदुःखार्ता अप्य् अन्ये पुरुषोत्तमाः । पौरुषेणैव यत्नेन याता देवेन्द्रतुल्यताम्
Even others who were afflicted by misery, poverty, and sorrow have, through effort and perseverance alone, attained a status equal to that of Indra, king of the gods.