Shloka 19
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Saṃvāda
Kṛpa’s Counsel on Destiny and Human Effort
हीन॑ पुरुषकारेण यदि दैवेन वा पुनः । कारणाभ्यामथैताभ्यामुत्थानमफलं भवेत्,पुरुषार्थहीन दैव अथवा दैवहीन पुरुषार्थ--इन दो ही कारणोंसे मनुष्यका उद्योग निष्फल होता है
hīnaḥ puruṣakāreṇa yadi daivena vā punaḥ | kāraṇābhyām athaitābhyām utthānam aphalaṁ bhavet ||
Si un hombre es deficiente ya sea en esfuerzo personal o, de nuevo, en destino favorable, entonces por cualquiera de estas dos causas su alzarse—su empresa y su empeño—se vuelve estéril.
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that effective action depends on both puruṣakāra (human effort) and daiva (destiny). If either is lacking, one’s enterprise (utthāna) can become aphala—without results—highlighting a balanced view of responsibility and the limits of control.
In the Sauptika Parva, Kṛpa is speaking in the aftermath of the war’s devastation, reflecting on why undertakings succeed or fail. His counsel frames the coming decisions by weighing human agency against the unpredictable force of fate.