Halfway through his work, a neighbor came running. “Arjun! A herd of wild goats has broken through the fence on the north side. Your young saplings are being destroyed!”

Vikram smiled gently. “Brother, I did not dig for the spring. I dug because it was the right action to take. The Gita teaches us: ‘Karmanye vadhikaraste, ma phaleshu kadachana’ — You have a right to your action, but never to its fruits.”

So, dear reader, when you face your own dry season—your own uncertain river—remember the two farmers. Pick up your shovel. Do the work in front of you. Leave the rest to life itself.

Arjun realized his mistake. He had not failed because he lacked strength; he had failed because he was attached to a specific result. His anxiety over the future had paralyzed him in the present.

Vikram, however, simply picked up his shovel and walked to the riverbank. His neighbor asked, “Why are you digging? You don’t know if the rains will come. You don’t know if the canal will work. You might fail.”