DAY 278

The Great Do Not Abandon What They Have Begun

Subhashita (Traditional Sanskrit Maxims)

기원후 5세기경(바르트리하리 니티샤타카)

ORIGINAL

प्रारभ्यते न खलु विघ्नभयेन नीचैः प्रारभ्य विघ्नविहता विरमन्ति मध्याः । विघ्नैः पुनः पुनरपि प्रतिहन्यमानाः प्रारब्धमुत्तमजना न परित्यजन्ति ॥ (prārabhyate na khalu vighnabhayena nīcaiḥ prārabhya vighnavihatā viramanti madhyāḥ, vighnaiḥ punaḥ punarapi pratihanyamānāḥ prārabdham uttamajanā na parityajanti)

📜 THE VERSE

The lowly do not even begin, fearing obstacles; the average begin but abandon it once struck by obstacles; but the great, though struck again and again, never give up what they have begun.

❓ TODAY'S QUESTION

Facing my current obstacle, which of the three am I acting like — the lowly, the average, or the great?

📝Reflection

This verse divides people into three tiers, but the measure is not talent — it is one's attitude before obstacles. Failing even to begin, beginning and then quitting, or continuing despite repeated blows: this difference among the three ultimately decides the outcome of a life. Obstacles come to everyone, but the choice made the moment we meet them determines which tier we belong to.

— ONGO · Curator

🌱Apply It Today

If an obstacle recently stopped you on something, take just one more step forward on it today.

📖 Source: Subhashita (Traditional Sanskrit Maxims). Sanskrit original with public-domain translations consulted; rendered independently by ONGO.
This verse is read as universal humanistic wisdom, not religion — no faith is promoted, and the reflection is 100% original ONGO content.