Shloka 3
दैव–पुरुषकार-प्रश्नः
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Inquiry: Fate and Human Effort
दैवमानुषयो: किंस्वित् कर्मणो: श्रेष्ठमित्युत । पुरा वसिष्ठो भगवान् पितामहमपृच्छत,प्राचीन कालकी बात है, भगवान् वसिष्ठने लोकपितामह ब्रह्माजीसे पूछा--'प्रभो! दैव और पुरुषार्थमें कौन श्रेष्ठ है?
daivamānuṣayoḥ kiṃ svit karmaṇoḥ śreṣṭham ity uta | purā vasiṣṭho bhagavān pitāmaham apṛcchat ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Vậy rốt cuộc, giữa daiva và puruṣakāra, điều nào là trội hơn? Thuở xưa, bậc Thánh hiền Vasiṣṭha đã đem chính câu hỏi ấy thưa hỏi Pitāmaha Brahmā.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a classic dharma-question: whether divine destiny (daiva) or human initiative (mānuṣa/puruṣārtha) is the higher determinant of outcomes. It introduces an authoritative inquiry to Brahmā, preparing for a reasoned resolution grounded in ethical responsibility and cosmic order.
Bhīṣma begins recounting an ancient precedent: the sage Vasiṣṭha once asked Brahmā (Pitāmaha) to decide which is superior—destiny or human effort. This sets up a didactic dialogue meant to guide conduct and judgment.