Shloka 32
अध्याय ३९: विदुरेण धृतराष्ट्राय नीत्युपदेशः
Timely Counsel, Association, and Kin-Duty
न दिष्टमभ्यतिक्रान्तुं शक््यं भूतेन केनचित् । दिष्टमेव ध्रुवं मन््ये पौरुषं तु निरर्थकम्,प्रारब्धका उल्लंघन करनेकी शक्ति किसी भी प्राणीमें नहीं है। मैं तो प्रारब्धको ही अचल मानता हूँ, उसके सामने पुरुषार्थ तो व्यर्थ है
na diṣṭam abhyatikrāntuṁ śakyaṁ bhūtena kenacit | diṣṭam eva dhruvaṁ manye pauruṣaṁ tu nirarthakam ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra sprach: „Kein Wesen vermag zu überschreiten, was das Geschick verordnet hat. Ich halte allein das Schicksal für fest und gewiss; ihm gegenüber erscheint menschliches Bemühen unerquicklich und vergeblich.“
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse articulates a strong fatalism: destiny (diṣṭa/prārabdha) is unalterable, and personal effort (pauruṣa) is ineffective. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, this attitude is often shown as spiritually and politically dangerous because it can become a pretext for avoiding dharmic action and accountability.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on events moving toward conflict and expresses resignation to destiny. His statement signals reluctance to intervene decisively against adharma within his own house, framing unfolding calamity as inevitable rather than as something that could be checked by timely, righteous effort.