Chapter 41 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 41

Valmiki Ramayana — Sundara Kanda

Verse 41.6

नह्येकः साधको हेतुः स्वल्पस्यापीह कर्मणः। यो ह्यर्थं बहुधा वेद स समर्थोऽर्थसाधने॥

nahyekaḥ sādhako hetuḥ svalpasyāpīha karmaṇaḥ| yo hyarthaṃ bahudhā veda sa samartho'rthasādhane||

English Meaning

He that dose a small work, is certainly not a worker, he it is that know to bring about success in diverse ways, is along capable of securing the same. (The commentator explains this passage thus:"He that by great pains accomplishes a small work, cannot be a great actor; but he that bring about his end in a variety of ways through the minimum of effort, in the actor.")

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)