Vamana Purana — Chanda & Munda Discover Katyayani, Shloka 18
Chanda and Munda Discover Katyayani; Mahishasura’s Proposal and the Vishnu-Panjara Protection
प्रागेव पुंसस्तु शुभाशुभानि स्थाने विधात्रा प्रतिपादितानि यस्मिन् यथायानि यतो ऽथविप्र स नीयते वा व्रजति स्वयं वा
prāgeva puṃsastu śubhāśubhāni sthāne vidhātrā pratipāditāni yasmin yathāyāni yato 'thavipra sa nīyate vā vrajati svayaṃ vā
Sesungguhnya hasil baik dan buruk bagi manusia telah ditetapkan terlebih dahulu oleh Sang Pencipta pada tempatnya masing-masing. Karena itu, wahai brāhmaṇa, dari mana pun dan dengan cara apa pun hal itu harus terjadi, ia akan dituntun ke sana—atau ia pergi ke sana dengan kehendaknya sendiri.
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FAQs
The verse teaches that outcomes (pleasant or painful) manifest according to an ordained moral order; even when one ‘chooses’ to go somewhere, that choice often aligns with deeper karmic momentum—hence humility and responsibility are both implied.
It functions as dharma/karma-interpretive narration within Vaṃśānucarita/Carita storytelling—an explanatory maxim (nyāya-style) embedded in the historical/legendary account.
‘Being led’ versus ‘going oneself’ collapses the dichotomy between fate and free will: providence operates both externally (circumstance) and internally (impulse), preparing the reader to interpret the asura’s next actions as karmically compelled.