Shloka 56
Nakula’s Adaptive Counsel to Kṛṣṇa in the Kuru Assembly (उद्योगपर्व, अध्याय ७८)
दैवं तु न मया शक्यं कर्म कर्तु कथंचन । मैं पुरुषार्थसे जितना हो सकता है
daivaṃ tu na mayā śakyaṃ karma kartuṃ kathaṃcana |
ارجُن نے کہا—تقدیر کے لکھے کو میں کسی طرح بھی نہ انجام دے سکتا ہوں نہ بدل سکتا ہوں۔ میں انسانی سعی سے جتنا ہو سکے گا، صلح و مفاہمت قائم کرنے کے لیے بھرپور کوشش کروں گا؛ مگر پراربدھ کے فرمان کو ٹال دینا یا بدل دینا میرے اختیار میں نہیں۔
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical balance: one must apply maximum human effort toward a righteous goal (here, peace), while recognizing that the final outcome may be governed by daiva/prārabdha beyond personal control. Responsibility lies in sincere effort, not in guaranteeing results.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Arjuna expresses resolve to strive for a settlement, yet acknowledges that if destiny has fixed the course toward conflict, he cannot overturn that decree—only act rightly within his capacity.