20. Mark, O Ráma! how the sage Viswámitra has cast away his destiny at a distance; and attained to Brahmahood by his own exertions.
21. Look at us and others who have become sages, that it was by our industry we became aeronauts or wanderers in the etherial regions.
22. Remember, O Ráma, how the chiefs of the Dánava race, have established their empires on earth by their prowess, and by discarding their destinies altogether.
23. Look again how the chiefs of gods have wrested the extensive earth from those demons by their valourous deeds of slaying and harassing them (in battle).
24. See Ráma! how they make handsome wicker vessels (of bamboo work) for the holding of water by their own industry, and without the aid of any destiny to the completion of the same.
25. In all our works of giving and receiving, walking, resting and the like, we see no causality of destiny in their completion, as we see of medicines (in healing diseases).
26. Therefore O Ráma, give up this destiny of your mistaken fancy; which is in reality devoid of its cause or effect, and is a false and ideal nullity; and betake yourself to your best exertions.
CHAPTER IX.
Investigation of Acts.
Ráma asked:—
“Will you Sir, that art versed in all knowledge, kindly explain the true sense of destiny in popular use.”