Shloka 17
ध्रुवस्य निर्वेदः — मन्त्रोपदेशः (ॐ नमो वासुदेवाय) तथा विष्ण्वाराधनविधिः
नोद्वेगस् तात कर्तव्यः कृतं यद् भवता पुरा तत् को ऽपहर्तुं शक्नोति दातुं कश् चाकृतं त्वया
nodvegas tāta kartavyaḥ kṛtaṃ yad bhavatā purā tat ko 'pahartuṃ śaknoti dātuṃ kaś cākṛtaṃ tvayā
Be not distressed, dear one. What you have already done in the past—who can take that away? And what you have not done—who can possibly bestow it upon you?
A consoling elder (within the dynastic narrative of Ansha 4; exact speaker not determinable from the single verse alone)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Sunīti counsels Dhruva on karma (what is done cannot be taken; what is not done cannot be granted)
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Concept: One’s present circumstances arise from prior action; what has been done bears fruit and cannot be stolen, and what has not been done cannot be gifted without effort and merit.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Focus on intentional practice—ethical living, disciplined effort, and devotional sādhanā—rather than obsessing over others’ opinions or unfairness.
Vishishtadvaita: Karma is not denied but ordered toward the Lord: the jīva’s effort and merit find fulfillment when directed into bhakti and reliance on Vishnu’s grace.
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
It asserts the sovereignty of karma: results of past deeds cannot be taken away by others, and results not earned cannot simply be granted—encouraging steadiness and responsibility.
It recommends anudvega (freedom from agitation) by seeing events through the lens of prior action and moral causality rather than fear, blame, or dependence on others.
Even without naming Vishnu, the verse aligns with Vaishnava order: the world functions under a just, divinely grounded moral law where fruits correspond to deeds, supporting trust in cosmic governance.