Brihadyatra 1: adhyāyaḥ 1

Chapter 1: Fate and Human Effort

At whose rising it blooms like a lotus, and at whose setting it closes:

victorious is that abode of rays, Savitar, together with the three worlds, moving and unmoving.

Conquering the earth by means of a sacrifice of kings, for a king who is thus exerting himself,

there is no sin in slaying obstructors, just like [slaying] beasts in sacrifices in prescribed order.

Endowed with the power of energy, counsel, and majesty, intelligent, his senses and servants restrained,

loved by his subjects, resolute, enduring, honoring elders, such a would-be conqueror is approved.

His royal astrologer should be modest in dress, intelligent, skilled in his own system, of noble birth,

capable, confident, without defect, and humble; and his royal chaplain should be of a similar nature.

Wise men describe the attainment of his goals as accompanied by fate and human effort.

In that regard, some reject human effort and declare fate alone to be the dispenser of fruits:

"Only what is to be obtained is obtained; only where one is to go does one go;

only what is to be experienced does one experience, both sorrows and joys.

If success came from exertion, not a single person would fail to obtain the fruit;

[yet] many are seen struggling day and night, emaciated by the search for a livelihood.

Just as a bird is slain having fallen, powerless, by the sun,

ordained by destiny, unable to be commanded, lord neither over others nor over oneself.

Therefore, fate is indeed primary; one should not perform human action.

Even one who remains inactive in this world enjoys the highest enjoyment.

Those who, fickle from self-conceit, march against their enemies, disregarding fate whose course cannot be overcome by force,

even though conquered, Fortune does not come into the grasp of those great sacrificial beasts of Death, even after a long time."

Likewise, others, disregarding fate entirely and relying upon courage,

looking only to exertion for the accomplishment of an action, have spoken thus:

"A king devoid of exertion, even if intelligent, is always

easy for enemies to overpower, like a serpent without venom.

A man courageous in exertion stands over those who are courageous only in words.

Those who are courageous in words serve and gratify the man who is courageous in exertion.

A man dull with calculating destiny, whose regard for human effort has slumbered,

does not kiss the face of Fortune merely through the weariness of daydreams.

For relying upon valor alone as his sole sound policy, according to traditional lore,

the lion instantly drinks the sweet mead of an elephant's tears, perfumed with rut."

The attainments of results are seen to follow cultivation and rain combined.

On this matter, hear the verses that issued from the mouth of Dvaipāyana:

"Fate does not act without human effort, nor human effort without fate;

one alone does not bring about a purpose, just as a single fire-drill does not produce fire.

All undertakings succeed from the union of both actions:

from fate and from human effort, but never from one alone.

Fate commands a man, 'Be here as its commander';

'I will not be here for him'—whence can there be fruit without exertion?

A man who diligently accomplishes human effort, and who, when opportunity for effort is blocked,

waits for the favor of fate as the second, is not touched by self-inflicted misfortunes.

The fruit of action acquired through sattva matures easily; that of rajas, through exertion;

the remainder matures with great difficulty; therefore, apportioned [results] must be sought by men through human efforts."