Shloka 276
अदारा-नीति
Crisis Composure) and ‘Jaya’ Śravaṇa (Morale-Instruction
अथ द्वैगुण्यमीहायां फलं भवति वा न वा परंतु जो कर्मोंका आरम्भ ही नहीं करते
atha dvaiguṇyam īhāyāṃ phalaṃ bhavati vā na vā | parantu yo karmoṃkā ārambha hī nahīṃ karate, ve to kabhī apane abhīṣṭakī siddhimeṃ saphala nahīṃ hote | ataḥ karmoṃko choḍakara niḥśreṣṭha baiṭhane kā yaha ek hī pariṇāma hotā hai ki manuṣyoṃko kabhī abhīṣṭa manorathakī prāpti nahīṃ ho sakatī | parantu karmoṃmeṃ utsāhapūrvaka lage rahanepara to donoṃ prakārake pariṇāmoṃkī sambhāvanā rahatī hai—karmoṃkā vāñchanīya phala prāpta bhī ho sakatā hai aura nahīṃ bhī
अथ द्वैगुण्यमीहायां फलं भवति वा न वा । ये त्वारम्भं न कुर्वन्ति न ते सिद्धिमवाप्नुयुः ॥ कर्मत्यागेन निष्कर्मा निषीदन्ति हि ये नराः । तेषामेकं फलं नित्यं न कदाचिदभीष्टता ॥ उत्साहेन तु कर्मस्थे द्विधा स्यात् फलसम्भवः । प्राप्यते वाऽपि वाञ्छितं न वा प्राप्येत कर्हिचित् ॥
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not abandon action out of fear of uncertain results. Outcomes may be favorable or unfavorable, but refusing to begin ensures failure; earnest effort at least keeps open the possibility of success.
A son-speaker offers counsel framed as practical ethics: in worldly undertakings results are uncertain, yet duty and purposeful effort are necessary, because inaction guarantees that one’s aims will not be achieved.