Shloka 19
Pūjya-namaskārya-prakaraṇa
On Those Worthy of Honor and Salutation
Devanagari script
नूनं दैव॑ न शक््यं हि पौरुषेणातिवर्तितुम्
Transliteration
nūnaṃ daivaṃ na śakyaṃ hi pauruṣeṇātivartitum
Translation
Matanga berkata: “Sesungguhnya, takdir tidak dapat dilangkaui oleh usaha manusia.”
Word by Word
नूनम्surely, indeed
नूनम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनूनम्
दैवम्fate, destiny (the divine dispensation)
दैवम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदैव
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
शक्यम्possible, able to be (done/overcome)
शक्यम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशक्य
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed, for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
पौरुषेणby human effort/valor
पौरुषेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपौरुष
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
अतिवर्तितुम्to overstep, to overcome, to pass beyond
अतिवर्तितुम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootअति√वृत्
FormInfinitive
Speaker
मतंग उवाच
Characters & Entities
M
MatangaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the limits of personal agency: human effort (pauruṣa) is necessary for righteous action, yet destiny (daiva) may not be fully overridden. Ethically, it encourages perseverance without arrogance and acceptance without abandoning duty.
Matanga is speaking reflectively, drawing a conclusion about the power of daiva (destiny). The line functions as a moral observation within the discourse of Anuśāsana Parva, emphasizing how outcomes may remain beyond one’s control even when one strives.