Shanti Parva 303.21
Rahular Itihasa / M. N. Dutt · Shanti Parva Chapter 303 · Verse 21
Sanskrit Original
सर्गकोटिसहस्राणि मरणान्तासु मूर्तिषु। य एवं कुरुते कर्म शुभाशुभफलात्मकम्॥ स एव फलमाप्नोति त्रिषु लोकेषु मूर्तिमान्। प्रकृति कुरुते कर्म शुभाशुभफलात्मकम्। प्रकृतिश्च तद श्नाति त्रिषु लोकेषु कामगा॥ तिर्यग्योनिमनुष्यत्वं देवलोके तथैव च। त्रीणि स्थानानि चैतानि जानीयात् प्रकृतानि ह॥ अलिङ्गां प्रकृति त्वाहुर्लिङ्गैरनुमिमीमहे। तथैव पौरुषं लिङ्गमनुमानाद्धि मन्यते॥
Millions upon millions of births have to be gone through by Individual Soul in the successive forms he assumes, all of which are liable to death. He who does acts in this way, which are all full of good and bad fruits, has in the three worlds to assume successive forms and to enjoy and suffer fruits corresponding therewith. It is Nature that causes good and bad acts; and it is Nature that enjoys and suffers the fruits thereof in the three worlds. Indeed, Nature follows the course of acts. The status of the intermediate beings, of humanity, and of the gods, all originate from Nature. Nature has been said to be shorn of all qualities. Her existence is proved by her acts.