Having obtained a body free from disease and a mind free from trouble, one should try to know the knowable to prevent further births. Whoever wants to avert his destiny through action obtains the acme of his wishes both in this world as well as the next. But whoever is averse to diligence and relies on his luck is an enemy to his own soul and sacrifices all his virtues, riches and hopes. [Acme: The highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development; the highest point (of something).] Whatever rule exists in the scriptures (Shastras), it is addressed to our acts and never points us to fate. Even children are well aware of this.

1. 1
Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book II – The Aspirant Who Longs for Liberation
Chapter 7: On the Necessity of Activity
Book II, Chapter 7
On the Necessity of Activity
Vashishtha speaking:
1Having obtained a body free from disease and a
mind free from trouble, one should try to know
the knowable to prevent further births.
2Whoever wants to avert his destiny through
action obtains the acme of his wishes both in this
world as well as the next.
3But whoever is averse to diligence and relies on
his luck is an enemy to his own soul and sacrifices
all his virtues, riches and hopes.
4The exercise of our faculties of sense and mind as
well as of the members of the body are the
different modes of our exertions that lead us to
success.
5Our perceptions are the cause of our mental
activity, and this triggers the body to action
whereby we obtain the fruits of our desire.
6Whatever rule exists in the scriptures (Shastras),
it is addressed to our acts and never points us to
fate. Even children are well aware of this.

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Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book II – The Aspirant Who Longs for Liberation
Chapter 7: On the Necessity of Activity
7It was by the exercise of their efforts that Brihaspati
became the lord of gods, and Shukra obtained the
position of the teacher of the demons.
8There have been many weak, poor and miserable men
who have by means of their manly exertions become
equal to Indra himself.
9So also there have been many great men on earth who,
after enjoyment of a great many extraordinary things
and luxuries here, have become guests in hell for lack
of exercising their manly virtues.
10In this manner all beings have evaded the effects of
their various states of want and opulence by means of
their own efforts.
11There are threefold benefits derived from the
study of books, from the lectures of a teacher, and
from one’s own industry, all of which attend our
efforts and not destiny.
12This is the long and short of all the scriptures
(Shastras), that diligence preserves our minds
from all evils by employing them to whatever is
good and right.
13To apply with diligence to whatever is excellent,
not low or mean and not liable to loss or decay, is
the lesson of parents and teachers to their sons and
pupils.

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Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book II – The Aspirant Who Longs for Liberation
Chapter 7: On the Necessity of Activity
14I get the immediate fruit of my labour in proportion to
my exertion. Therefore I say that I enjoy the fruit of my
labour and not of fortune.
15Activity gives us success and this is what
elevates the intelligent. But men of little
understanding in their miserable state rely only in
luck.
16We have visible evidence (of the efficacy) of activity
every day, in the examples of men travelling in distant
countries (for the sake of gain).
17He who eats becomes satisfied and he does not
starve. So he who walks is said to proceed and not
one who rests. In like manner, whoever speaks is
called a speaker and not the silent man. Thus
action makes the man.
18Wise men escape from great difficulties by means of
their efforts, but not so the mistaken fatalist by his
fruitless inertia.
19Whoever acts in any manner gets his reward
accordingly, but the inactive man has nothing to
expect anywhere.
20By well-directed industry a man reaps the best reward,
as he meets with its reverse by his misapplied labour.
Think upon this, O Rama, and do as you like.

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Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book II – The Aspirant Who Longs for Liberation
Chapter 7: On the Necessity of Activity
21The reward of industry, which a man meets with
sooner or later at any time or place, is said by the wise
to be his fortune.
22No one can see his fortune, nor has anybody ever
seen it, nor is there such a thing to be found in any
world. It is only the merit of our acts here which
they place in another world.
23A man is born on earth to grow up and decay in his
time, and no destiny is seen in the same way in his
childhood, youth or old age.
24Application to diligence and action for the
attainment of an object are known by the term
“effort” by the wise, whereby all things are
accomplished.
25Going from one place to another, holding a thing in
the hand, and the movement of limbs are all the acts of
effort and not destiny.
26There is another kind of propensity which is
towards acts productive of evil. This sort of action
is likened to the attempt of a madman which
yields no good.
27Men of acute understandings raise themselves to
elevation by their association with the virtuous, study
of good works, and active employment in duties
tending to their own good.

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Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book II – The Aspirant Who Longs for Liberation
Chapter 7: On the Necessity of Activity
28The boundless joy arising from equanimity is said to
constitute one’s supreme good. This blessing also
results from a man’s diligent application to the
scriptures.
29Understanding leads to the knowledge of the
scriptures, and the scriptures tend towards our right
understanding of things. Just so does the lotus serve to
beautify a lake, and the lake lends its grace to the lotus.
30It is also by virtue of one’s deep study and good
company in youth that a man later attains his
desirable objects.
31It was by means of his actions that Vishnu conquered
the demons and established the order of the world. It
was by this that he created the worlds, none of which
could be the work of fate.
32Now, O lord of Raghu’s race, employ your efforts
to the exertion of your manly activities in such a
way that you may live unafraid of being bitten by
the snake-like people in this tree of the world
(crush the malice of your enemies).
*******
Meaning
Diligence: Conscientiousness in paying proper
attention to a task; giving the degree of care required in

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Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book II – The Aspirant Who Longs for Liberation
Chapter 7: On the Necessity of Activity
a given situation; persevering determination to perform
a task.
Perception: Knowledge gained by perceiving;
becoming aware of something via the senses.
Want: A state of extreme poverty; the state of needing
something that is absent or unavailable; anything that
is necessary but lacking; a specific feeling of desire.
Opulence: Wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living;
wealth, affluence.
Industry: Persevering determination to perform a task.
Propensity: An inclination to do something; a natural
inclination; a disposition to behave in a certain way.
*******