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.
आ बाल्याच् चैवम् अभ्यस्तैश् शास्त्रसत्सङ्गमादिभिः । गुणैः पुरुषयत्नेन स्वो ऽर्थस् सम्प्राप्यते हि तैः
Indeed, from childhood, by cultivating virtues such as study of scripture and association with the wise, one’s own goal is achieved through human effort.
इति प्रत्यक्षतो दृष्टम् अनुभूतं श्रुतं कृतम् । दैवोत्थम् इति मन्यन्ते ये हतास् ते कुबुद्धयः
Thus, what is seen directly, experienced, heard, and done, all attest to this; those who think everything arises from fate alone are ruined and possess poor understanding.
आलस्यं यदि न भवेज् जगत्य् अनर्थः को न स्याद् बहुधनिको बहुश्रुतो वा । आलस्याद् इयम् अवनिस् ससागरान्ता सम्पूर्णा नरपशुभिश् च निर्धनैश् च
If there were no laziness, what misfortune would remain in the world? Who would not be wealthy or learned? Because of laziness, this earth, bounded by oceans, is filled with human beasts and the destitute.
बाल्ये गते ऽविरतकल्पितकेलिलोले पौगण्डमण्डनवयःप्रभृति प्रयत्नात् । सत्सङ्गमैः पदपदार्थविबुद्धबुद्धिः कुर्यान् नरस् स्वगुणदोषविचारणानि
When childhood has passed, and the mind is no longer absorbed in ceaseless play, from the onset of youth, one should, through effort and noble company, cultivate discernment regarding the true nature of things, and reflect upon one's own virtues and faults.
इत्य् उक्तवत्य् अथ मुनौ दिवसो जगाम सायन्तनाय विधये ऽस्तम् इनो जगाम । स्नातुं सभा कृतनमस्करणा जगाम श्यामाक्षये रविकरैश् च सहाजगाम
After the sage had spoken thus, the day drew to its evening close; the sun set. The assembly, having offered their salutations, went to bathe, and the dusk arrived together with the sun's rays fading.
तस्मात् प्राक्पौरुषं दैवं नान्यत् तत् प्रोज्झ्य दूरतः । साधुसङ्गमसच्छास्त्रैर् जीवम् उत्तारयेद् बलात्
Therefore, only human effort exists before destiny; abandon all else far away. By the force of good company and true scriptures, one should uplift one's life.
यथा यथा प्रयत्नस् स्याद् भवेद् आशु फलं तथा । इति पौरुषम् एवास्ति दैवम् अस्तु तद् एव वः
The greater the effort, the swifter the result will be. Thus, only human effort exists; let destiny be just that for you.
दुःखाद् यथा दुःखकाले हा कष्टम् इति कथ्यते । हाकष्टशब्दपर्यायस् तथा हा दैवम् इत्य् अपि
Just as, in times of suffering, one exclaims 'Alas, how painful!', so too, the word 'destiny' is merely another way of saying 'alas!'
प्राक्स्वकर्मेतराकारं दैवं नाम न विद्यते । बालः प्रबलपुंसेव तज् जेतुम् इह शक्यते
Apart from the form created by one's own past actions, there is no such thing as destiny; like a child facing a strong man, it can be overcome here.
ह्यस्तनो दुष्ट आचार आचारेणाद्य चारुणा । यथाशु शुभतां याति प्राक्तनं कुकृतं तथा
Just as bad conduct from yesterday quickly becomes good today through virtuous behavior, so too, past misdeeds are transformed.