Shloka 34
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Saṃvāda
Kṛpa’s Counsel on Destiny and Human Effort
तदस्माभि: पुनः कार्यमिति मे नैष्ठिकी मति: । हमारे पूछनेपर वे लोग अब हमारे लिये जो श्रेयस्कर कार्य बतावें, वही हमें करना चाहिये; मेरी बुद्धिका तो यही दृढ़ निश्चय है ।। ३३ $ ।। अनारम्भात् तु कार्याणां नार्थ: सम्पद्यते क्वचित्,कार्यको आरम्भ न करनेसे कहीं कोई भी प्रयोजन सिद्ध नहीं होता है; परंतु पुरुषार्थ करनेपर भी जिनका कार्य सिद्ध नहीं होता है, वे निश्चय ही दैवके मारे हुए हैं। इसमें कोई अन्यथा विचार नहीं करना चाहिये
tad asmābhiḥ punaḥ kāryam iti me naiṣṭhikī matiḥ | anārambhāt tu kāryāṇāṃ nārthaḥ sampadyate kvacit |
Wika ni Kṛpa: “Kaya nararapat na kumilos tayong muli—ito ang aking matibay na paninindigan. Sapagkat kung hindi man lamang sisimulan ang isang gawain, walang layuning matatamo saanman. Ngunit yaong kahit nagsikap ay hindi pa rin nagtatagumpay, tunay na tinamaan ng tadhana; dito’y walang dapat pag-alinlangan.”
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kṛpa emphasizes that meaningful results require initiating action; mere hesitation yields nothing. At the same time, he acknowledges a limit to human effort: if success does not come even after proper exertion, it may be due to overpowering fate (daiva). The ethical thrust is toward resolute, responsible action rather than paralysis.
In the Sauptika Parva’s tense aftermath of the great war, Kṛpa advises his companions with a firm, practical resolve: they must decide and act. He frames the moment as one where inaction guarantees failure, while action is necessary—even if outcomes can still be constrained by fate.