ऐहिकः प्राक्तनं हन्ति प्राक्तनोऽद्यतनं बलात् । सर्वदा पुरुषस्पन्दस्तत्राऽनुद्वेगवाञ्जयी ॥ १८ ॥
aihikaḥ prāktanaṁ hanti prāktanō’dyatanaṁ balāt | sarvadā puruṣaspandastatrā’nudvēgavāñjayī || 18 ||
Translation
The present strikes down the past, and the past the present, by force. There, always, the human stirring that does not lose heart is the victor.
Word by word
- aihikaḥ
- the present
- prāktanaṁ
- the past
- hanti
- strikes down
- prāktanō
- (prāktanaḥ) the past
- adyatanaṁ
- the present
- balāt
- by force
- sarvadā
- always
- puruṣa
- human
- spandas
- (spandaḥ) stirring
- tatra
- there
- anudvēgavāñ
- (anudvegavān) that does not lose heart
- jayī
- is the victor
Meaning
Honesty first: Vasiṣṭha does not say that the present always wins. Each can beat the other. Then comes the deciding word, anudvegavān, "without agitation", the one who does not panic or lose heart. Whichever effort stays unshaken wins. The commentary draws the subtle point, and another commentary agrees: only the present effort can be free of agitation, for the past is already over and cut off, and cannot now try again, while the present is still going on. This is the whole advantage of being alive. Past action, for all its momentum, has no patience and no second thoughts, and it cannot adapt. A person who is present can simply keep on, and calm persistence is itself the weapon.