दैन्यदारिद्र्यदुःखार्त्ता अप्यन्ये पुरुषोत्तमाः । पौरुषेणैव यत्नेन याता देवेन्द्रतुल्यताम् ॥ २७ ॥
dainyadāridryaduḥkhārttā apyanyē puruṣōttamāḥ | pauruṣēṇaiva yatnēna yātā dēvēndratulyatām || 27 ||
Translation
Others too, the best of men, afflicted by the misery of wretchedness and poverty, by effort alone, by striving, came to equal the king of the gods.
Word by word
- dainya
- of wretchedness
- dāridrya
- and poverty
- duḥkha
- by the misery
- ārttā
- (ārtāḥ) afflicted
- apy
- (api) too
- anyē
- others
- puruṣōttamāḥ
- the best of men
- pauruṣēṇa
- by effort
- ēva
- alone
- yatnēna
- by striving
- yātā
- (yātāḥ) came
- dēvēndra
- the king of the gods
- tulyatām
- to equal
Meaning
Examples from tradition. Some of the best of men began in misery, wretched and poor, and by effort became equal to Indra. The commentary names Nala and Hariścandra, kings who lost everything and regained their glory. The lesson is that the starting point does not decide the end. Poverty and wretchedness are conditions, not verdicts.