कश्चिन् मां प्रेरयत्य् एवम् इत्य् अनर्थकुकल्पने । यस् स्थितो दृष्टम् उत्सृज्य त्याज्यो ऽसौ दूरतो ऽधमः
The notion, 'Someone else impels me to act thus,' is a harmful delusion; whoever holds to this view, abandoning what is evident, should be shunned from afar as base.
व्यवहारसहस्राणि यान्य् उपायान्ति यान्ति च । यथाशास्त्रं विहर्तव्यं तेषु त्यक्त्वा सुखासुखे
Among the thousands of transactions that come and go, one should act according to the scriptures, having abandoned pleasure and pain in them.
यथाशास्त्रम् अनुच्छिन्नां मर्यादां स्वाम् अनुज्झतः । उपतिष्ठन्ति सर्वाणि रत्नान्य् अम्बुनिधेर् इव
For one who does not abandon the unbroken boundary of scriptural conduct, all treasures arise, as if from the ocean.
स्वार्थप्रापककार्यैकप्रयत्नपरता बुधैः । प्रोक्ता पौरुषशब्देन सा सिद्ध्यै शास्त्रयन्त्रिता
The wise have described single-minded effort toward attaining one's own purpose as 'human effort'; it succeeds when guided by scripture.
क्रियायास् स्पन्दधर्मिण्यास् स्वार्थसाधकता स्वयम् । साधुसङ्गमसच्छास्त्रतीक्ष्णयाभ्यूह्यते धिया
When action is vibrant and dynamic, it naturally accomplishes its own purpose; this is sharpened by the intellect through association with the virtuous and study of true scriptures.
अनन्तं समतानन्दं परमार्थं विदुर् बुधाः । स येभ्यः प्राप्यते ऽत्यन्तं ते सेव्याश् शास्त्रसाधवः
The wise know the supreme reality as endless, equal bliss; those by whom it is fully attained are the true teachers and scriptures to be served.
प्राक्तनं पौरुषं तच् चेद् दैवशब्देन कथ्यते । तद् युक्तम् एतद् एतस्मिन् नाम्नि नापवदामहे
If previous effort is referred to by the term 'destiny,' then it is appropriate; in this context, we do not reject that name.
मूढैः प्रकल्पितं दैवम् अन्यद् यैस् ते क्षयं गताः । नित्यं स्वपौरुषाद् एव लोकद्वयहितं भवेत्
Destiny imagined by the foolish as something else has led them to ruin; always, only one's own effort brings benefit to both worlds.
ह्यस्तनी दुष्क्रियाभ्येति शोभां सत्क्रियया यथा । अद्यैवं प्राक्तनी तस्माद् यत्नात् सत्कार्यवान् भव
Just as yesterday's wrong actions are replaced by today's good deeds with beauty, so too, previous actions are overcome; therefore, strive to be a doer of noble acts.
करामलकवद् दृष्टं पौरुषाद् एव यत् फलम् । मूढः प्रत्यक्षम् उत्सृज्य दैवमोहे निमज्जति
The fruit of effort is as clearly seen as an amla fruit in one's palm; the foolish, ignoring what is obvious, sink into the delusion of destiny.
सकलकारणकार्यविवर्जितं निजविकल्पबलाद् उपकल्पितम् । तद् अनपेक्ष्य हि दैवम् असन्मयं श्रय शुभाशय पौरुषम् आत्मनः
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.
शास्त्रैस् सदाचरितजृंभितदेशधर्मैर् यत् कल्पितं फलम् अतीव चिरप्ररूढम् । तस्मिन् हृदि स्फुरति नो ऽपरम् एति चित्तम् अङ्गावली तदनु पौरुषम् एतद् आहुः
The result produced by scriptures, noble conduct, and established regional 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.
बुद्ध्वैव पौरुषफलं पुरुषत्वम् एतद् आत्मप्रयत्नपरतैव सदैव कार्या । नेया ततस् सफलतां परमाम् अथासौ सच्छास्त्रसाधुजनपण्डितसेवनेन
Having realized that the fruit of effort is indeed attained through human endeavor, one should always engage in personal effort. Thereafter, its supreme fulfillment is to be attained by serving true scriptures, virtuous people, and the wise.
दैवपौरुषविचारचारुभिश् चेतसा चरितम् आत्मपौरुषम् । नित्यम् एव जयतीति भावितैः कार्य आर्यजनसेवनोद्यमः
With a mind that skillfully examines destiny and personal effort, one should always act with one's own effort; thus, by those who are so inclined, the pursuit of serving noble people is always victorious.
जन्मप्रबन्धमयम् आमयम् एष जीवो बुद्ध्वैहिकं सहजपौरुषम् एव सिद्ध्यै । शान्तिं नयत्व् अवितथेन वरौषधेन पृष्टेन तुष्टिपरपण्डितसेवनेन
This living being, bound by the chain of birth, is afflicted by disease; realizing this, one should employ natural human effort for success. Let him attain peace through the unfailing supreme medicine, which is the company of contented and truly wise people.
प्राप्य व्याधिविनिर्मुक्तं देहम् अल्पाधिवेधितम् । तथात्मानं समादध्याद् यथा भूयो न जायते
Having obtained a body free from disease and only lightly touched by affliction, one should so establish oneself that there is no further rebirth.
दैवं पुरुषकारेण यो ऽतिवर्तितुम् इच्छति । इह चामुत्र च जयेत् स सम्पूर्णाभिवाञ्छितम्
Whoever wishes to transcend destiny through personal effort, both here and hereafter, will attain all that is fully desired.
ये समुद्योगम् उत्सृज्य स्थिता दैवपरायणाः । ते धर्मम् अर्थकामौ च नाशयन्त्य् आत्मविद्विषः
Those who, abandoning all effort, remain devoted only to fate—such self-hating ones destroy righteousness, wealth, and enjoyment.
संवित्स्पन्दो मनस्स्पन्द इन्द्रियस्पन्द एव च । एतानि पुरुषार्थस्य रूपाण्य् एभ्यः फलोदयः
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.
यथा संवेदनं चेतस् तथान्तस्स्पन्दम् ऋच्छति । तथैव कायश् चलति तथैव फलभोक्तृता
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.
आबाल्यम् एतत् संसिद्धं यत्र तत्र यथा तथा । दैवं तु न क्वचिद् दृष्टम् अतो जयति पौरुषम्
From childhood, this is evident everywhere and in every way: destiny is never seen anywhere; therefore, human effort prevails.
पुरुषार्थेन देवेशगुरुर् एष बृहस्पतिः । शुक्रो दैत्येन्द्रगुरुतां पुरुषार्थेन चास्थितः
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.
दैन्यदारिद्र्यदुःखार्ता अपि साधो नरोत्तमाः । पौरुषेणैव यत्नेन याता देवेन्द्रतुल्यताम्
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.
महान्तो विभवाढ्या ये नानाश्चर्यसमाश्रयाः । पौरुषेणैव दोषेण नरकातिथितां गताः
Those great ones who were wealthy and surrounded by various wonders, through the fault of their own actions, have reached the state of guests in hell.
भावाभावसहस्रेषु दशासु विविधासु च । स्वपौरुषवशाद् एव विवृत्ता भूतजातयः
Among thousands of existences and in various conditions, the states of living beings arise solely according to their own effort.
शास्त्रतो गुरुतश् चैव स्वतश् चेति त्रिसिद्धता । सर्वत्र पुरुषार्थस्य न दैवस्य कदाचन
Whether established by scripture, by a teacher, or by oneself—these threefold confirmations—everywhere it is human effort, never destiny, that is affirmed.
अशुभेषु समाविष्टं शुभेष्व् एवावतारयेत् । यत्नेन चित्तम् इत्य् आशु सर्वशास्त्रार्थसङ्ग्रहः
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.
यच् छ्रेयो यद् अतुच्छं च यद् अपायविवर्जितम् । तत् तद् आचर यत्नेन पुत्रेति गुरवस् स्थिताः
Whatever is truly beneficial, not trivial, and free from harm—practice that diligently, my son; thus have the teachers declared.
यथा यथा प्रयत्नो मे फलम् आशु तथा तथा । इत्य् अहं पौरुषाद् एव फलभाङ् न तु दैवतः
Just as my effort increases, so does the result come quickly; thus, I receive the fruit solely from my own exertion, not from fate.
पौरुषाद् दृश्यते सिद्धिः पौरुषो धीमतां क्रमः । दैवम् आश्वासनामात्रं दुःखे पेलवबुद्धिषु
Success is seen through effort; effort is the path of the wise; fate is merely a consolation for those with weak minds in suffering.