शास्त्रनियन्त्रितपौरुषपरमा पुरुषस्य पुरुषता या स्यात् । अभिमतफलभरसिद्ध्यै भवति हि सैवाऽन्यथा त्वनर्थाय ॥ १९ ॥
śāstraniyantritapauruṣaparamā puruṣasya puruṣatā yā syāt | abhimataphalabharasiddhyai bhavati hi saivā’nyathā tvanarthāya || 19 ||
Translation
The manhood of a man, which is effort governed by scripture, is for the fulfilment of the wealth of fruits he desires; otherwise it brings only harm.
Word by word
- śāstra
- by scripture
- niyantrita
- governed
- pauruṣa
- effort
- paramā
- which is
- puruṣasya
- of a man
- puruṣatā
- the manhood
- yā
- which
- syāt
- is
- abhimata
- he desires
- phala
- of fruits
- bhara
- the wealth
- siddhyai
- for the fulfilment
- bhavati
- is
- hi
- indeed
- sā
- it
- ēva
- indeed
- anyathā
- otherwise
- tv
- (tu) but
- anarthāya
- brings harm
Meaning
In the āryā metre, a summary with a warning. A man's manhood (puruṣatā) is effort guided and governed by scripture (śāstra-niyantrita). Such effort fulfils every aim; without that guidance, the same energy brings harm (anartha). The commentary: the unceasing striving of a man that follows scripture alone gives the desired fruit; effort against scripture brings misfortune. Effort is a force, like fire. Directed, it cooks; undirected, it burns. Vasiṣṭha praises not the force but the force guided.