Man's powers, if properly exerted, only follow his Destiny, but Destiny alone is incapable of conferring any good where Exertion is wanting. There is a constant rivalry between the deities and the Rishis, and if they all have to go through their Karmas, still it can never be averted that there is no such thing as Destiny, for it is Destiny that initiates all Karma. One's own self is one's friend and one's enemy too, as also the witness of one's good and evil deeds. Good and evil manifest themselves through Karma. Good and evil acts do not give adequate results.
Righteousness is the refuge of the gods, and by righteousness is everything attained.
Destiny thwarts not the man that has attained to virtue and righteousness. All the good which is attained with difficulty in this world is possessed by the wicked, is soon lost to them. Destiny does not help the man that is steeped in spiritual ignorance. Even as a fire of small proportions, when fanned by the wind, becomes the mighty power, so does Destiny, when joined with individual Exertion, increase greatly in potentiality . As with the diminution of oil in the lamp its light is extinguished so does the influence of Destiny is lost if one's acts stop.