Shloka 15
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Saṃvāda
Kṛpa’s Counsel on Destiny and Human Effort
शवक्नोति जीवितुं दक्षो नालस: सुखमेधते । दृश्यन्ते जीवलोकेडस्मिन् दक्षा: प्रायो हितैषिण:
śaknoti jīvituṁ dakṣo nālasaḥ sukham edhate | dṛśyante jīvaloke ’smin dakṣāḥ prāyo hitaiṣiṇaḥ ||
Kṛpa said: “A capable and diligent man can sustain his life and even prosper in happiness; but an indolent person never becomes happy. In this world of living beings, it is generally seen that those who are efficient and actively engaged in effort are the ones who secure their own welfare.”
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
Happiness and welfare are linked to competence and sustained effort; laziness undermines well-being. The verse promotes purposeful action (puruṣārtha) and self-discipline as practical dharma.
In the Sauptika Parva’s tense aftermath of the war, Kṛpa offers counsel framed as worldly observation: those who act with skill and diligence tend to secure their interests, whereas the idle fail to thrive.