Shloka 16
यदि दक्ष: समारम्भात् कर्मणो नाश्लुते फलम् | नास्य वाच्यं भवेत् किंचिल्लब्धव्यं वाधिगच्छति,यदि कार्य-दक्ष मनुष्य कर्मका आरम्भ करके भी उसका कोई फल नहीं पाता है तो उसके लिये उसकी कोई निन्दा नहीं की जाती अथवा वह अपने प्राप्तव्य लक्ष्यको पा ही लेता है
yadi dakṣaḥ samārambhāt karmaṇo nāśnute phalam | nāsya vācyaṃ bhavet kiñcil labdhavyaṃ vādhigacchati ||
If a capable man, even after undertaking an action, does not obtain its fruit, no blame should be spoken against him; or else, in due course, he surely reaches what is meant to be attained. In the ethical frame of the war’s aftermath, Kṛpa stresses that failure of outcome does not by itself prove fault in the agent, and that steadfast competence tends toward eventual attainment.
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
Competent effort may sometimes fail to yield immediate results, yet that alone is not grounds for blame; moreover, sustained capability and right undertaking tend toward eventual attainment of the intended goal.
In Sauptika Parva, Kṛpa is advising in the tense aftermath of the night-raid episode; he frames how to judge actions and outcomes, cautioning against condemning a capable agent merely because the expected fruit is not instantly seen.