न गन्तव्यमनुद्योगैः साम्यं पुरुषगर्दभैः । उद्योगस्तु यथाशास्त्रं लोकद्वितयसिद्धये ॥ १४ ॥
na gantavyamanudyōgaiḥ sāmyaṁ puruṣagardabhaiḥ | udyōgastu yathāśāstraṁ lōkadvitayasiddhayē || 14 ||
Translation
One should not become like donkeys among men, who make no effort; effort, as scripture directs, is for success in both worlds.
Word by word
- na
- not
- gantavyam
- should become
- anudyōgaiḥ
- who make no effort
- sāmyaṁ
- like
- puruṣa
- among men
- gardabhaiḥ
- donkeys
- udyōgas
- (udyogaḥ) effort
- tu
- but
- yathāśāstraṁ
- as scripture directs
- lōka
- worlds
- dvitaya
- both
- siddhayē
- for success in
Meaning
The idle person is a "donkey among men" (puruṣa-gardabha); the commentary says he is even worse than a donkey, which at least carries loads. One should not sink to his level. Effort according to scripture (yathāśāstram) brings success in both worlds, this one and the next, or, as the commentary reads it, heaven and liberation. Vasiṣṭha does not despise the world; he says effort serves it too.