The gods do not imitate a cowherd leading a herd of cattle

 

न देवा दण्डमादाय रक्षन्ति पशुपालवत्।

यम् तु रक्षितुमिच्छन्ति बुद्ध्या संविभजन्ति तम्॥

na devā daṇḍamādāya rakṣanti paśupālavat|

yam tu rakṣitumicchanti buddhyā saṁvibhajanti tam||

Meaning

Sure, the Gods do not look after and protect the men always giving the directions to move clear of dangers

The gods do not imitate a cowherd leading a herd of cattle controlling them with a stick or loud cries every moment ..

If the Gods intend to protect the men, they provide him with proper intelligence and power of discretion.

(And the man can use the intelligence and discretion provided by gods and choose to build up his own life..)

In fact this couplet though it would look so simple just conveying something which is so natural and ordinary, it is really a realistic definition of the relationship between the man and his Maker..

In fact God provides a lot of free moving space to the men

and gives them the choice to do things in the manner best suited to the circumstances..

The theory of free will as we call it.

So if the man errs within those limits,

he has himself to be blamed,

he is accountable, and he will have to face the consequences..

A lot of questions on how fate works in our lives are answered here..

देवा gods पशुपालवत् like a cowherd दण्डमादाय carrying a rod (मनुष्यं a man )न रक्षन्ति do not protect

(परन्तु but यदि if ते they) (मनुष्यं )रक्षितुं इच्छन्ति want to protect a manतर्हि thenतम् बुध्या संविभजन्ति they straighten him with intelligence and power of discretionन देवा दण्डमादाय रक्षन्ति पशुपालवत्।यम् तु रक्षितुमिच्छन्ति बुद्ध्या संविभजन्ति तम्॥