न दैवं दृश्यते दृष्ट्या न च लोकान्तरे स्थितम् । उक्तं दैवाभिधानेन स्वर्लोके कर्मणः फलम् ॥ २२ ॥
na daivaṁ dṛśyatē dṛṣṭyā na ca lōkāntarē sthitam | uktaṁ daivābhidhānēna svarlōkē karmaṇaḥ phalam || 22 ||
Translation
Fate is not seen by the eye, nor does it dwell in another world. What is called by the name of fate is the fruit of action in the world of heaven.
Word by word
- na
- not
- daivaṁ
- fate
- dṛśyatē
- is seen
- dṛṣṭyā
- by the eye
- ca
- nor
- lōka
- world
- antarē
- in another
- sthitam
- does it dwell
- uktaṁ
- what is called
- daiva
- of fate
- abhidhānēna
- by the name
- svar
- of heaven
- lōkē
- in the world
- karmaṇaḥ
- of action
- phalam
- the fruit
Meaning
Two last hiding places are checked. Could fate be something seen? No. Could it live elsewhere, in a heaven from which it directs events? Also no. What the word points at, in the verse, is the fruit of action enjoyed in the heavenly world; another commentary adds, or met here after death. It is the same account as in the last sarga: a word with a modest, legitimate use, and no independent being behind it. It is a clearing of the sky. There is no office up there from which one's life is being managed. There are only the consequences of what has been done, arriving when they arrive.