Shloka 11
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Saṃvāda
Kṛpa’s Counsel on Destiny and Human Effort
उत्थानं च मनुष्याणां दक्षाणां दैववर्जितम् । अफल दृश्यते लोके सम्यगप्युपपादितम्
utthānaṃ ca manuṣyāṇāṃ dakṣāṇāṃ daivavarjitam | aphalaṃ dṛśyate loke samyag apy upapāditam ||
Dijo Kṛpa: Aun el empeño enérgico de los hombres capaces, si se ve privado del amparo del destino (दैव), se muestra en este mundo como estéril, aunque haya sido llevado a cabo con pleno cuidado y competencia.
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that even well-executed human effort (puruṣārtha/utthāna) can fail if the factor of destiny (daiva) is absent; therefore one should act diligently yet remain humble about outcomes and avoid harsh moral judgment based solely on success.
In the Sauptika Parva’s tense aftermath of the great war, Kṛpa reflects on causality and results: he remarks that competence and careful planning do not guarantee success when destiny does not align, framing the characters’ deliberations with a fatalistic, cautionary tone.