सौप्तिक पर्व — (क्रमशः) कृपाचार्य का उत्तर — यदि अश्वत्थामा प्रातःकाल युद्ध करें तो वे सहायता देंगे

Kripa Said “We have heard all that you have said, O powerful one! Listen, now, to a few words of mine, O mighty-armed one!

All men are subjected to, and governed by, these two forces, viz., Destiny and Manliness. There is nothing superior to these two.

Success is not the out come of destiny alone nor of manliness alone, O best of men! Success results from the union of the two.

All objects great and low, result from a union of those two. In the whole world, it is through these two that men either actor abstain.

No result is produced by the clouds pouring upon a mountain. But mighty results are produced by their pouring upon a cultivated field.

Manliness, where destiny is not auspicious, and want of manliness, where destiny is auspicious, both these are fruitless. What I have said before (about the union of the two) is all true.

If the rains properly moisten a wellcultivated field the seed produces great results. Such is hymen success.

Sometimes, having settled a course of events, destiny acts of itself. For all that, the wise, always take recourse to manliness.

All human acts, O foremost of men, are accomplished by the aid of these two together. Influenced by these two, men either actor abstain.

Recourse may be had to manliness. But manliness succeeds through destiny. By the influence of destiny one who sets himself to work, attain to success.

The exertion, however, of even a capable man, even when well-directed, is, without the help of destiny, seen to be fruitless in the world.

Idle and dull men in this world disapprove of manliness. This, however, is not the view of the wise.

Generally no act ever becomes fruitless in the world. The want manliness again produces grave misery.

There is hardly seen a person who obtains something of itself without haying made any exertion, as also one who does not obtain anything even after exertion.

One who is active is capable of supporting life. He, who is idle, is always unhappy. It is generally seen in this world that active men are always inspired by the desire of earning good.

If an active man succeeds in gaining his object or fails to obtain the fruit of his acts, he does not become the but of censure in any way. one

If, however, any in the world luxuriously enjoys the fruits of action without exerting for the same, he generally incurs ridicule and becomes an object of hatred.

He, who, neglecting this rule about action, liveth otherwise, is said to injure himself. This is the opinion held by the intelligent.

Exertion generally becomes fruitless, because of these reasons, viz., destiny without manliness, and manliness without destiny.

Without manliness, no act in this world becomes successful. An active and clever man however, who, having bowed down to the celestials, seeks to achieve his object, is never lost.

Similarly a person is crowned with success, who duly waits upon the aged, asks of them what is for his food, and obeys their good advice.

One engaged in a work should seek the advice of those approved by the aged. These men are the means, and success depends on means.

He who exert after listening to the words of the old, soon reaps abundant fruits.

He, who, without reverence and respect for persons competent to give him good advice, seeks to accomplish his object under the influence of anger, fear, and avarice, soon loses his prosperity.

Moved his covetousness and deprived of foresight, this Duryodhana had, without taking advice, foolishly sought the accomplishment of an ill-formed object.

Disregarding all his well-wishers and under the advice of only the evil-minded, he had, though dissuaded, created enmities with the Pandavas, who are his superiors in all good qualities.

He had, from the very commencement been very wicked. He could not check himself. He did not satisfy the wishes of friends. For all that, he is now sunk in grief and calamity.

Regarding ourselves, since we have followed that sinful wretch, this great calamity has, therefore befallen us.

This great calamity has burnt my good sense. Plunged in thought I fail to see what is for our good.

A man that is beside himself should seek the advice of his friends. In friends consists his understanding, his humility and his prosperity.

His actions should be guided by them. He should do which his intelligent friends, having settled by their understanding, should advise.

Let us, therefore, repair to Dhritarashtra and gandhari and the great Vidura, and ask them as what we should do.

Asked by us, they will advice us regarding our good. We should do what they say, this is my resolution.

Those men whose acts do not succeed even after the exertion, should, forsooth, be regarded as afflicted by destiny."