We should not fret for what is past, nor should we be anxious about the future men of discernment deal only with the present moment.

The saying urges a disciplined focus on the only time we can actually act: the present. Regret over the past and anxiety about the future both consume attention without changing anything directly; discernment (practical wisdom) lies in directing energy toward what can be done now. In the Chanakya tradition—often associated with pragmatic statecraft and personal conduct—this reads less like abstract mysticism and more like counsel for effective decision-making: learn from what has happened, anticipate what may come, but do not let either paralyze action. The “men of discernment” are those who convert experience and foresight into present, concrete choices.