Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 22: Rāma Instructs Lakṣmaṇa
Text 2.22.22
सुखदुःखे भयक्रोधौ लाभालाभौ भवाभवौ।
यच्च किञ्चित्तथाभूतं ननु दैवस्य कर्म तत्॥
sukha-duḥkhe bhaya-krodhau lābhālābhau bhavābhavau
yac ca kiñcit tathā-bhūtaṁ nanu daivasya karma tat
sukha-duḥkhe = happiness, unhappiness; bhaya-krodhau = fear, anger; lābha-alābhau = gain, loss; bhava-abhavau = creation, annihilation; yat = everything; ca = and; kiñcit = else see in the world; tathā-bhūtam = due to an inconceivable cause; nanu = is indeed; daivasya = of providence; karma tat = an effect.
Happiness, unhappiness, fear, anger, gain, loss, creation annihilation and everything else seen in the world due to an inconceivable cause is indeed an effect of providence.
GLOSS. Bhavābhavau indicate that auspiciousness and inauspiciousness [are also effects of providence].
NOTE. The role of daiva or providence is clarified by the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.14) thus:
adhiṣṭhānaṁ tathā kartā karaṇaṁ ca pṛthag-vidham
vividhāś ca pṛthak ceṣṭā daivaṁ caivātra pañcamam
“The body, the soul, the various senses, the many different kinds of endeavor, and ultimately the Supersoul—these are the five factors of action.”
Prabhupāda has remarked:
The soul within the body is acting to bring about the results of activity and is therefore known as kartā, “the doer.” That the soul is the knower and the doer is stated in the Śruti. Eṣa hi draṣṭā sraṣṭā (Praśna Upaniṣad 4.9). It is also confirmed in the Vedānta-sūtra by the verses jño ’ta eva (2.3.18) and kartā śāstrārthavattvāt (2.3.33). The instruments of action are the senses, and by the senses the soul acts in various ways. For each and every action there is a different endeavor. But all one’s activities depend on the will of the Supersoul, who is seated within the heart as a friend. The Supreme Lord is the supercause.