Shloka 14

Devanagari script

विषमावस्थिते दैवे पौरुषेडफलतां गते । विषादयन्ति नात्मानं सत्त्वोपाश्रयिणो नरा:,जब दैव ([प्रारब्ध) प्रतिकूल हो और पुरुषार्थ निष्फल हो जाय, उस समय भी सत्त्वगगुणका आश्रय लेनेवाले मनुष्य अपने मनमें विषाद नहीं लाते

Transliteration

viṣamāvasthite daive pauruṣeḍaphalatāṁ gate | viṣādayanti nātmānaṁ sattvopāśrayiṇo narāḥ ||

Translation

When fate stands in an adverse posture and human effort yields no fruit, those people who take refuge in steadfast goodness do not sink into dejection within themselves. The verse commends inner firmness: even when circumstances overpower one’s agency, a person grounded in sattva preserves composure and moral clarity.

Word by Word

विषमावस्थितेwhen (it is) in an adverse state

दैवेin fate / in destiny

पौरुषेin human effort

अफलताम्fruitlessness / failure

गतेwhen (it) has gone/come to (i.e., has become)

विषादयन्तिcause to be depressed / grieve

नnot

आत्मानम्themselves / their own self

सत्त्वोपाश्रयिणःthose who take refuge in sattva (goodness/fortitude)

नराःmen / people

Speaker

बृहदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when destiny turns adverse and one’s efforts fail, a person established in sattva (clarity and steadiness) does not succumb to inner despair; ethical strength is shown by maintaining composure amid uncontrollable outcomes.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva is instructing his listener through a reflective maxim: he contrasts hostile daiva (circumstance/fate) with fruitless pauruṣa (effort) and highlights the ideal response—steadfast, non-dejected endurance grounded in sattva.