Shloka 17
यच्चापि किंचित् पुरुषो दिष्टं नाम भजत्युत । दैवेन विधिना पार्थ तद् दैवमिति निश्चितम्,कुन्तीनन्दन! मनुष्य जो कुछ भी देवाराधनकी विधिसे अपने भाग्यके अनुसार पाता है, उसे निश्चितरूपसे दैव (प्रारब्ध) कहा गया है
yaccāpi kiñcit puruṣo diṣṭaṃ nāma bhajaty uta | daivena vidhinā pārtha tad daivam iti niścitam ||
Wahai Pārtha! Apa pun yang dimiliki seseorang sebagai bagian yang telah ditetapkan baginya—diperoleh menurut ketetapan ilahi—itulah yang dengan pasti disebut ‘daiva’, yakni daya takdir (prārabdha).
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines ‘daiva’ (destiny) as whatever outcome or possession a person receives as his allotted share under the divine order—emphasizing that certain results are understood as fixed by providential allotment.
In a reflective discussion on causality and responsibility, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Pārtha (Arjuna) and clarifies what should be called ‘daiva’: the portion of experience and gain that comes to a person as an appointed lot, governed by a higher ordinance.