Shloka 1.58.22

त्रिशङ्कुशापः — Trishanku’s Curse and Appeal to Viśvāmitra

Devanagari script

दैवमेव परं मन्ये पौरुषं तु निरर्थकम्।।।।दैवेनाक्रम्यते सर्वं दैवं हि परमा गति:।

Transliteration

daivam eva paraṃ manye pauruṣaṃ tu nirarthakam | daivenākramyate sarvaṃ daivaṃ hi paramā gatiḥ ||

Translation

I deem destiny alone to be supreme; human effort seems futile. Everything is overpowered by destiny—destiny indeed is the highest refuge.

Context

I consider destiny to be all-powerful. The effort of a man goes in vain. Everything is controlled by destiny. It is the supreme resort.

Characters & Entities

• Triśaṅku
• Viśvāmitra
• daiva (destiny)
• pauruṣa (human effort)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse raises the dharmic tension between fate (daiva) and personal responsibility (pauruṣa), prompting reflection on how much agency one has within moral life.

What is the narrative situation?

After repeated rejection, Triśaṅku interprets his failure as destiny’s domination and expresses despair about human effort.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a virtue but a psychological state is foregrounded—despondency and fatalism born from repeated obstruction.