One should not give up the work suited to one's nature, Kaunteya, even though it has faults; for all undertakings are enveloped by fault, as fire is by smoke.
सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत् | सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः ||१८-४८||
value
Perseverance
Perseverance refers to the persistence and determination in pursuing a goal despite challenges. World spiritual traditions converge in valuing perseverance as essential for personal growth and self-improvement. They diverge in their approaches and emphases, offering unique perspectives on its role in spiritual development.
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But the yogi who strives with effort, purified of faults and perfected through many births, then reaches the supreme goal.
प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः | अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ||६-४५||
May God and the Eternal Wisdom grant us to remain equally immovable and unalterable with Himself. Amen.
This secret psychic entity is the true, original conscience within us, deeper than the conventional conscience constructed by moralists. It always points us towards truth, rightness, beauty, love, harmony, and all the divine possibilities within us, persisting until these become the primary needs of our nature.
'That is indeed how it is, Maghavan,' he said. 'But I will explain this to you further — yet nowhere but in this very body is the truth to be found. Stay another five years.' So he stayed another five years, which made a hundred and one in all. That is why people say, 'For a hundred and one years Maghavan lived as a student with Prajapati.' Then Prajapati said to him:
एवमेवैष मघवन्निति होवाचैतं त्वेव ते भूयोऽनुव्याख्यास्यामि नो एवान्यत्रैतस्माद्वसापराणि पञ्च वर्षाणीति स हापराणि पञ्च वर्षाण्युवास तान्येकशतꣳ सम्पेदुरेतत्तद्यदाहुरेकशतꣳ ह वै वर्षाणि मघवान्प्रजापतौ ब्रह्मचर्यमुवास तस्मै होवाच
You will need to struggle for a long time with patience and perseverance to achieve this. For a seeker with unwavering determination and unshakeable resolve, nothing is impossible.
'When one truly is steadfast, then one has faith; without steadfastness, one does not have faith; only one who is steadfast has faith. But one must desire to understand steadfastness.' 'Sir, I desire to understand steadfastness.'
यदा वै निस्तिष्ठत्यथ श्रद्दधाति नानिस्तिष्ठञ्छ्रद्दधाति निस्तिष्ठन्नेव श्रद्दधाति निष्ठा त्वेव विजिज्ञासितव्येति निष्ठां भगवो विजिज्ञास इति
He said to him: "No one but a Brahmin could speak out so plainly. Fetch the firewood, my dear; I will initiate you, for you have not departed from the truth." Having initiated him, he picked out four hundred lean, weak cows and said: "Follow after these, my dear." As he drove them off, he said: "I will not return without a thousand." He lived away for a number of years, until they became a thousand.
तꣳ होवाच नैतदब्राह्मणो विवक्तुमर्हति समिधꣳ सोम्याहरोप त्वा नेष्ये न सत्यादगा इति तमुपनीय कृशानामबलानां चतुःशता गा निराकृत्योवाचेमाः सोम्यानुसंव्रजेति ता अभिप्रस्थापयन्नुवाच नासहस्रेणावर्तेयेति स ह वर्षगणं प्रोवास ता यदा सहस्रꣳ सम्पेदुः
There is one God, one Dharma, and steadfast single-pointed devotion is the supreme austerity. There is nothing higher than the Guru — no reality, no principle, transcends the Guru.
एको देव एकधर्म एकनिष्ठा परं तपः । गुरोः परतरं नान्यन्नास्ति तत्त्वं गुरोः परम्
The other replied: "Away with them—keep these cows to yourself, Shudra!" So then Janashruti the great-grandson took a thousand cows, a gold necklace, a mule-drawn chariot, and his own daughter, and went to him again.
तमु ह परः प्रत्युवाचाह हारेत्वा शूद्र तवैव सह गोभिरस्त्विति तदु ह पुनरेव जानश्रुतिः पौत्रायणः सहस्रं गवां निष्कमश्वतरीरथं दुहितरं तदादाय प्रतिचक्रमे
Love me with all your heart, for I am omnipresent and friendly to all. Worship me with a steadfast vow.
अब गृह जाहु सखा सब भजेहु मोहि दृर्ह नेम, सदा सर्बगत सर्बहित जानि करेहु अति प्रेम
It is nobody's fault; sorrow and joy, loss and gain are determined by our past actions.
सुनहु भरत भावी प्रबल बिलखि कहेउ मुनिनाथ, हानि लाभु जीवनु मरनु जसु अपजसु बिधि हाथ
Every embodied being is subject to pleasure and pain as determined by their fate.
प्रत्येक्षं देहिनां यथादष्टस्य सुखं दुःखं च
The person who, with devotion and perseverance, recites the thousand names of Vasudeva daily, after purifying themselves, will attain great fame, prominence among their family, lasting prosperity, and ultimately, the highest benefit - liberation.
I steadfastly attach myself to those who are devoted to their duties, who never fall away from patience, and who take pleasure in walking the path that leads to heaven.
Through persistent hopefulness, firm resolution, and the grace of the great god, the fruits of one's actions are obtained without delay.
That warrior who, determined to win, charges into the enemy's ranks without waiting for help, achieves a state of great happiness like mine.
I consider effort to be more important, because destiny is determined by the results of the efforts we put in.
Time's course is truly amazing. High birth, good health, beauty, wealth, and all sources of pleasure are all determined by one's destiny.
Be steadfast in humility, self-control, truth, and righteousness.