Shloka 40
दैव–पुरुषकार-प्रश्नः
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Inquiry: Fate and Human Effort
राजर्षि धुन्धुमार यज्ञ करते-करते बूढ़े हो गये तथापि देवताओंके प्रसन्नतापूर्वक दिये हुए वरदानको त्यागकर गिरिवत्रजमें सो गये (यज्ञका फल नहीं पा सके) ।।
rājarṣiḥ dhundhumāraḥ yajñaṃ kurvan kurvan vṛddho 'bhavat tathāpi devatābhiḥ prasannatāpūrvakaṃ dattam varadānaṃ tyaktvā girivraje suṣvāpa (yajñaphalaṃ na prāpa) || pāṇḍavānāṃ hūtaṃ rājyaṃ dhārtarāṣṭra-mahābalaiḥ punaḥ pratyāhṛtaṃ caiva na daivād bhujasaṃśrayāt ||
Bhīṣma said: The royal sage Dhundhumāra grew old while performing sacrifices; yet, renouncing even the boon graciously granted by the pleased gods, he lay down to sleep at Girivraja and thus failed to obtain the fruit of his sacrifice. Likewise, the mighty sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra seized the kingdom duly won by the Pāṇḍavas; and the Pāṇḍavas recovered it again not by relying on fate, but by taking refuge in their own strength.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not abandon rightful action by leaning on “fate.” Even divine boons or ritual merit become fruitless if one lapses into passivity; success in dharma and kingship requires timely human effort (bhuja-saṃśraya) alongside whatever destiny provides.
Bhishma gives two illustrative cases: (1) the sage-king Dhundhumara, despite long sacrifice and a boon from pleased gods, renounces it and sleeps at Girivraja, losing the sacrifice’s fruit; (2) the Kauravas seize the Pandavas’ kingdom, and the Pandavas regain it through their own strength rather than trusting fate.