Shloka 4
यदि यत्नो भवेन्मर्त्य: स सर्व फलमाप्नुयात् नालभ्यं चोपलभ्येत नृणां भरतसत्तम
yadi yatno bhaven martyaḥ sa sarva-phalam āpnuyāt | nālabhyaṃ copalabhyeta nṛṇāṃ bharata-sattama || bharata-bhūṣaṇa |
যুধিষ্ঠিৰে ক’লে— হে ভৰতশ্ৰেষ্ঠ! যদি কেৱল মানৱ-প্ৰচেষ্টাই নিৰ্ণায়ক হ’লেহেঁতেন, তেন্তে মানুহে নিশ্চয় সকলো ফল লাভ কৰিলেহেঁতেন। কিন্তু যি বস্তু প্ৰাৰব্ধবশতঃ মানুহৰ বাবে অপ্রাপ্য, সেয়া কঠোৰ উদ্যোগতো প্ৰাপ্য নহয়।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts human effort (yatna) with destiny (what is alabhya due to prārabdha/daiva): effort is necessary, but it is not omnipotent—some outcomes remain unattainable despite striving, so one should act rightly without assuming guaranteed results.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a revered Bharata elder, reflecting on the limits of personal endeavor and the role of destiny, as part of the Anuśāsana Parva’s broader ethical instruction on conduct, responsibility, and acceptance of outcomes.