Destiny

lobha-moha-samāpannaṁ na daivaṁ trāyate naram

lobha-moha-samāpannaṁ na daivaṁ trāyate naram ||
yathāgniḥ pavanoddhūtaḥ sūkṣmo’pi bhavate mahān |
tathā karma-samāyuktaṁ daivaṁ sādhu vivardhate ||
yathā taila-kṣayād dīpaḥ pramlānim upagacchati |
tathā karma-kṣayād daivaṁ pramlānim upagacchati ||
(Mahābhārata: 13.6.42–44)

“Destiny does not save a person afflicted with greed and delusion. As even a small fire stoked by the wind becomes large, so destiny supported by karma greatly increases. As a lamp becomes extinguished as a result of the diminution of oil, so destiny becomes extinguished as a result of the diminution of karma.”

Read on →

yathā hy ekena cakreṇa na rathasya gatir bhavet

yathā hy ekena cakreṇa na rathasya gatir bhavet |
tathā puruṣakāreṇa vinā daivaṁ na siddhyati ||
(Hitopadeśa: Maṅgalācaraṇa, 30)

“As no movement shall occur of a chariot with only one wheel, so destiny does not accomplish anything without a person’s endeavor.”

Read on →

udyamena hi sidhyanti kāryāṇi na manorathaiḥ

udyamena hi sidhyanti kāryāṇi na manorathaiḥ |
na hi suptasya siṁhasya praviśanti mukhe mṛgāḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: Maṅgalācaraṇa, 36; Pañcatantra: Mitra-samprāpti)

“Tasks are accomplished verily by industriousness, and not just by desires. Animals do not enter the mouth of a sleeping lion.”

Read on →

kāka-tāIīyavat prāptaṁ dṛṣṭvāpi nidhim agrataḥ

kāka-tāIīyavat prāptaṁ dṛṣṭvāpi nidhim agrataḥ |
na svayaṁ daivam ādatte puruṣārtham apekṣate ||
(Hitopadeśa: Maṅgalācaraṇa, 35)

“Destiny itself does not grant [one possession of] a jewel even after it has been seen present in the fore like the palm and the crow [i.e., by chance]. A person’s effort is [also] required [for one to obtain it].”

Read on →

yādṛcchikatvaṁ na tu karma-janitatvaṁ

yādṛcchikatvaṁ na tu karma-janitatvaṁ … |
(Sārārtha-darśinī-ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.10.17)

“Being yādṛcchika [lsly., “of independent cause”], and not rather, being produced by karma ….”

Read on →

tad ahaṁ tvad ṛte na nāthavān

tad ahaṁ tvad ṛte na nāthavān
mad ṛte tvaṁ dayanīyavān na ca |
vidhi-nirmitam etad anvayaṁ
bhagavan pālaya mā sma jīhaya ||
(Stotra-ratna: 51)

“Therefore, without you, I do not have a master, and without me, you do not have a suitable recipient for your grace. This is our relationship, formed by destiny. O Bhagavān, please protect me; do not ever reject me.”

Read on →

aprārthitāni duḥkhāni yathaivāyānti dehinām

aprārthitāni duḥkhāni yathaivāyānti dehinām |
sukhāny api tathā manye daivam atrātiricyate ||
(Tantrākhyāyika: 121; cited in ṭīkās to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 1.5.18)

“As unrequested sufferings certainly come to the embodied, so too do pleasures. I consider that destiny prevails in this regard.”

Read on →

udyoginaṁ puruṣa-siṁham upaiti lakṣmīr

udyoginaṁ puruṣa-siṁham upaiti lakṣmīr
daivena deyam iti kāpuruṣā vadanti |
daivaṁ nihatya kuru pauruṣamātma-śaktyā
yatne kṛte yadi na sidhyati ko’tra doṣaḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: 1.33)

“An endeavoring, lion-like person attains good fortune (lakṣmī). Wretches say, ‘Fortune must be given by destiny.’ Set aside destiny and exert yourself with your full energy. If you make an effort but are not successful, what fault is there in that?”

Read on →

anāgata-vidhātā ca pratyutpanna-matis tathā

anāgata-vidhātā ca pratyutpanna-matis tathā |
dvāv etau sukham edhete yad-bhaviṣyo vinaśyati ||
(Hitopadeśa: 4.6)

“A provisioner for the future and one endowed with presence of mind—these two certainly live happily. A fatalist [i.e., one who thinks, “Whatever will be will be; it is inevitable”] perishes.”

Read on →

kāmamaya evāyaṁ puruṣa iti

kāmamaya evāyaṁ puruṣa iti | sa yathā-kāmo bhavati tat-kratur bhavati | yat-kratur bhavati tat karma kurute | yat karma kurute tad abhisampadyate |
(Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad: 4.4.5)

“The living being is indeed made of desire. As is his desire, so is his intention. As is his intention, so is the action he performs, and as is the action he performs, so is that which he attains.”

Read on →

Type your query and press enter