Arthashastra - Fate and Human Effort

Devanagari

मानुशं नयापनयौ दैवमयानयौ ॥
दैवमानुशं हि कर्म लोकं यापयति ॥
अदृष्टकारितं दैवम् ॥
तस्मिन्निष्टेन फलेन योगोऽयः अनिष्टेनानयः ॥
दृष्टकारितं मानुषम् ॥
तस्मिन्योगक्षेमनिष्पत्तिर्नयः विपत्तिरपनयः ॥
तच्चिन्त्यमचिन्त्यं दैवम् ॥

Transliteration

mānuṣaṃ nayāpanayau daivam-ayānayau ||
daiva-mānuṣaṃ hi karma lokaṃ yāpayati ||
adṛṣṭa-kāritaṃ daivam ||
tasmin-niṣṭena phalena yogo’yaḥ aniṣṭenānayaḥ ||
dṛṣṭa-kāritaṃ mānuṣam ||
tasmin-yoga-kṣema-niṣpattir-nayaḥ vipattir-apanayaḥ ||
tac-cintyam-acintyaṃ daivam ||

Translation

6.2.06 - 07: Human action consists of right policy (Naya) and wrong policy (Apanaya). Providential (Fate) consists of good fortune (Aya) and bad fortune (Anaya). For it is both Fate and Human Action that move the world.

6.2.08 - 09 (On Fate): Fate is that which is caused by unseen forces. Obtaining a desired fruit from it is “Good Fortune”; an undesired outcome is “Bad Fortune.”

6.2.10 - 12 (On Effort): Human action is that which is caused by visible means. Achieving Yoga-Kshema through it is “Right Policy”; failure is “Wrong Policy.” Action is thinkable (controllable); Fate is unthinkable (beyond control).

Personal Rule

Stop stressing over Daivam (Fate/Luck). Focus entirely on Manusham (Visible Effort). If you fail due to bad luck, it’s Anaya; if you fail due to bad planning, it’s Apanaya. A true ruler only blames the latter.

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