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.”
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.”
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].”
śrī-goloke nikhila-paramānanda-pūrāntya-sīma-
gambhīrābdhau janani gamanaṁ sādhaya sva-prayāsaiḥ |
yasmiṁs tās tā vividha-ratayas tena nāthena sākaṁ
yātrā-mātrān madhura-madhurāḥ santataṁ saṅghaṭante ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.7.75)
“[Mahārāja Parīkṣit:] O Mother, endeavor by your own efforts to go to Śrī Goloka, the deep ocean of the ultimate reaches of the outpouring of the totality of the highest bliss, just by journeying into which those [indescribable] variegated, sweet, sweet delights together with that Nātha [i.e., Śrīmad Madana Gopāladeva] take place constantly [i.e., endeavor to journey there because only there will all your desires be fulfilled to the greatest extent].”
svamātuḥ svinna-gātrāyā visrasta-kabara-srajaḥ |
dṛṣṭvā pariśramaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ kṛpayāsīt svabandhane ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.9.18)
“Seeing his own mother’s sweating body, the garland from her braid fallen loose, and her exertion, Kṛṣṇa, by his grace, became bound by his own [i.e., by his own mother; alt., by his own will].”
kāka-ceṣṭā bako dhyānaṁ śvāna-nidrā tathaiva ca |
svalpāhārī gṛha-tyāgī vidyārthī pañca-lakṣaṇaḥ ||
(Unknown source)
“The effort of a crow [i.e., making a perseverant endeavor], the concentration of a crane [i.e., patient and unwavering concentration focused on one’s major goal (the “big fish”) and not lesser matters (the “little fish” that are often seen around)], the sleep of a dog [i.e., falling asleep easily, sleeping for a short time, waking up quickly, and remaining alert even while asleep], being a light eater, and being a renouncer of the household [i.e., being content to live away from home and without all the comforts of home] are the five characteristics of a seeker of knowledge [i.e., a student].”
śreyāṁsi bahu-vighnāni bhavanti mahatām api |
aśreyasi pravṛttānāṁ dūraṁ yānti vināyakāḥ ||
(Unknown source)
“There are many obstacles to good works, even for the great. Impediments go away, however, from those engaged in harmful work.”
śreyāṁsi bahu-vighnāni sambhavanti pade pade |
(Garuḍa Purāṇa)
“Many obstacles to beneficial endeavors can arise at every step.”
sopāna-bhūtaṁ mokṣasya mānuṣyaṁ prāpya durlabham |
yas tārayati nātmānaṁ tasmāt pāpa-tarotra kaḥ ||
tataś cāpy uttamaṁ janma labdhvā cendriya-sauṣṭhavam |
na vettātma-hitaṁ yas tu sa bhavet ātma-ghātakaḥ ||
vinā dehena kasyāpi puruṣārtho na vidyate |
tasmād deha-dhanaṁ prāpya puṇya-karmāṇi sādhayet ||
rakṣet sarvātmanātmānam ātmā sarvasya bhājanam |
rakṣaṇe yatnam ātiṣṭhet yāvat tattvaṁ na paśyati ||
(Kulārṇava Tantra: Ullāsa 1, 16–19)
“So, who is a greater sinner in this world than one who receives this rare to attain human form which is the ladder to liberation but does not deliver oneself? Moreover, one who attains this topmost birth along with the excellence of its [i.e., human] senses but does not know one’s own good is a destroyer of one’s own self. Without a [human] body, no one’s puruṣārthas are attained. Therefore, having received the fortune of this body, one should perform auspicious acts. One should protect oneself in all respects, as the self [i.e., body] is the vessel for everything. One should take care in protecting [one’s body] until one sees the truth.”
bādhyamāno’pi mad-bhakto viṣayair ajitendriyaḥ |
prāyaḥ pragalbhayā bhaktyā viṣayair nābhibhūyate ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.14.18; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.552; Bhakti Sandarbha: 115)
“Although obstructed [i.e., attracted] by objects of the senses (viṣayas), a bhakta of mine who has not [yet] conquered the senses is generally not overwhelmed by objects of the senses (viṣayas) by virtue of vigorous bhakti [i.e., by virtue of bhakti, which possesses the capability to overcome the influence of residual affinities (vāsanās) for varieties of sensory experience].”
