Shloka 33

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

उद्योगेन कृते कार्ये सिद्धर्यस्य न विद्यते / दैवं तस्य प्रमाणं हि कर्तव्यं पौरुषं सदा

Transliteration

udyogena kṛte kārye siddharyasya na vidyate / daivaṃ tasya pramāṇaṃ hi kartavyaṃ pauruṣaṃ sadā

Translation

Wenn ein Werk mit rechtem Einsatz begonnen wurde und dennoch kein Erfolg eintritt, dann gilt in diesem Fall das «daiva» (Geschick) als entscheidender Beweis; dennoch soll menschliches Bemühen stets getan werden.

Word by Word

• उद्योगेन: by effort
• उद्योगेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• कृते: when (it is) done
• कृते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally with ‘कार्ये’

• कार्ये: in a task/work
• कार्ये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular

• सिद्धः: successful/accomplished
• सिद्धः: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; √सिध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; (पाठे ‘सिद्धर्’ = ‘सिद्धः’ sandhi before ‘यस्य’)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; genitive singular; relative pronoun

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय; negation particle

• विद्यते: exists/is found
• विद्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु; √विद् ‘to be/know’ in passive-like usage)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे प्रयोगः ‘exists/is found’

• दैवम्: fate/divine will
• दैवम्: Karta (Predicate-noun/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; genitive singular

• प्रमाणम्: the authority/standard
• प्रमाणम्: Karta (Predicate-noun/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; emphasis/causal particle

• कर्तव्यम्: must be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Karya (Obligation/कार्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तव्य (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ + तव्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive) ‘to be done’

• पौरुषम्: manly effort/human endeavor
• पौरुषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular; (object/complement of ‘कर्तव्यम्’)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla-adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय; adverb of time

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: यथोचित-उद्योगेऽपि असिद्धौ दैवम् प्रमाणम्; तथापि पौरुषं न त्याज्यम्—कर्तव्यकर्म निरन्तरम्।

Vedantic Theme: कर्मफल-न्याय with ईश्वराधीनता; अनासक्ति (do your duty, accept outcome)

Application: Work diligently with best methods; if outcomes fail, review factors without self-hatred; accept uncontrollables while continuing disciplined effort.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ethical reflection (non-specific)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma/ācāra: कर्म-दैव समन्वय (general parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of fate (daiva) and effort (pauruṣa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches a balanced view: one must act with sincere effort, but if success still does not come, the unseen force of past karma (daiva) is acknowledged—without using it as an excuse to avoid action.

How does this verse explain karma in daily life?

It implies that outcomes depend on both present endeavor and prior karmic conditions; therefore, one should focus on righteous action (effort) while accepting that results may be shaped by earlier causes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Work diligently and ethically, improve what is in your control, and accept setbacks without despair—treating them as karmic timing while continuing disciplined effort.