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Shloka 50

Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154

अहो! पुत्रके वियोगसे पीड़ित हो मृतकोंके इस शून्य स्थानमें आकर अत्यन्त दुःखसे रोने-बिलखनेवाले इन भूतलवासी मनुष्योंके हृदयमें बछड़ोंसे रहित हुई गायोंकी भाँति कितना शोक होता है? इसका अनुभव मुझे आज हुआ है; क्योंकि इनके स्नेहको निमित्त बनाकर मेरी आँखोंसे भी आँसू बहने लगे हैं ।।

aho! putrake viyogena pīḍito mṛtakānām asmin śūnye sthāne āgatya atyanta-duḥkhena rorūyamāṇānām imān bhūtalavāsinaḥ manuṣyānāṁ hṛdaye vatsair rahitāḥ gāva iva kīdṛśaḥ śoko bhavati? tad anubhūtaṁ mayā adya; eteṣāṁ snehān nimittaṁ kṛtvā mama api akṣibhyāṁ aśrūṇi pravṛttāni. yatno hi satataṁ kāryaḥ, tato daivena siddhyati; daivaṁ puruṣakāraś ca kṛtāntena upapadyate.

Dijo Jambuka: «¡Ay! Hoy he llegado a saber qué dolor llena los corazones de los hombres que habitan la tierra—cuando, atormentados por la separación de un hijo, llegan a este paraje desolado de los muertos y, abrumados por la pena, lloran y se lamentan—como vacas privadas de sus terneros. Su afecto se ha vuelto la causa misma de que también mis lágrimas caigan. Por ello, uno debe perseverar siempre en el esfuerzo para alcanzar lo deseado; entonces, por la conjunción del destino, se logra el éxito. El destino y el empeño humano, ambos, hallan su cumplimiento por medio del Tiempo (el curso ordenado).»

यत्नःeffort
यत्नः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयत्न
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
सततम्always/constantly
सततम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसतत
कार्यःto be done; should be done
कार्यः:
TypeAdjective
Rootकार्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ततःthen/thereafter; from that
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
दैवेनby fate; by divine dispensation
दैवेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootदैव
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
सिद्ध्यतिis accomplished/succeeds
सिद्ध्यति:
TypeVerb
Rootसिध्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
दैवम्fate; divine factor
दैवम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदैव
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
पुरुषकारःhuman effort
पुरुषकारः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुषकार
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
कृतान्तेनby Time/Death (the ordained end)
कृतान्तेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकृतान्त
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
उपपद्यतेcomes about; is obtained/realized
उपपद्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootउप√पद्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

जम्बुक उवाच

J
Jambuka
S
son (putraka)
T
the dead (mṛtakāḥ)
H
humans (bhūtalavāsinaḥ manuṣyāḥ)
C
cows
C
calves
T
Time/Fate (kṛtānta)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches a balanced view: one must continually exert effort (puruṣakāra/yatna), yet success also depends on destiny (daiva). Both are ultimately realized through Time (kṛtānta), the larger ordained order in which outcomes mature.

Jambuka observes people grieving intensely in a desolate place associated with death, especially those suffering separation from a beloved son. Moved by their affection and sorrow, he himself begins to weep, and then reflects on the relation between human effort, destiny, and Time.