Shloka 16
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Saṃvāda
Kṛpa’s Counsel on Destiny and Human Effort
यदि दक्ष: समारम्भात् कर्मणो नाश्लुते फलम् | नास्य वाच्यं भवेत् किंचिल्लब्धव्यं वाधिगच्छति
yadi dakṣaḥ samārambhāt karmaṇo nāśnute phalam | nāsya vācyaṃ bhavet kiñcil labdhavyaṃ vādhigacchati ||
If a capable man, even after undertaking an action, does not obtain its fruit, no blame should be spoken against him; or else, in due course, he surely reaches what is meant to be attained.
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
Competent effort may sometimes fail to yield immediate results, yet that alone is not grounds for blame; moreover, sustained capability and right undertaking tend toward eventual attainment of the intended goal.
In Sauptika Parva, Kṛpa is advising in the tense aftermath of the night-raid episode; he frames how to judge actions and outcomes, cautioning against condemning a capable agent merely because the expected fruit is not instantly seen.