A lion is a lion be it in fortune or misfortune because it fights and takes his due

 

विहाय पौरुषं यो हि दैवमेवावलम्बते।

प्रासादसिंहवत्तस्य् मूर्ध्नि तिष्टन्ति वायसाः॥

vihāya pauruṣaṁ yo hi daivamevāvalambate|

prāsādasiṁhavattasy mūrdhni tiṣtanti vāyasāḥ||

A subhashitam worth a lot of consideration

The futility of the dependence of some people entirely or fate and chance.. without making any personal effort is viewed with disapproval here.

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One who just abandons all his manliness, capacity to endeavour and industriousness and entirely depends on luck and providence would gain nothing

In fact, he is more like a statue of a lion seen mounted on walls on the sides or the gate, or placed atop the turret or chimney.. The use for such lion is that the crows can rest on its head..

It is no lion at all..

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Chance and serendipity, luck and providence do play some role in our lives. No denial about it..

But even if a fortunate situation arises, a person can gain benefit from it only if he makes some diligent effort to use such benefits properly..

And even if misfortune arises, the boldness of a person coupled with his hard work would enable him to survive and even overcome the worst situation..

To think that misfortune has arrived and that the astrologer or the stars have predicted like that

and and therefore nothing is to be done to salvage whatever is possible is stupidity of the highest order..

A lion is a lion be it in fortune or misfortune because

it fights and takes his due, and alternately it fights and gives up his life in honour..

A statue of the lion is just a dead peace of stone or wood..

The crows would sit boldly on its head, and perhaps paint it white with their droppings..

The will not dare to do that with a live lion.