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Verse 31
कर्म कर्महिताबन्धि जीवो जीवहितस्पृहः । Faltayhtar Fallef ont at 7 alwayfa 11
(31)
Karmas work in their interest and the soul works in its interest. It is but natural; who does not wish to expand own influence?
EXPLANATORY NOTES
In this verse, the Acārya has metaphorically expressed the functioning of the karmas vis-à-vis the soul. Karmas bound with the soul have the tendency to interfere with its natural functioning. Due to the influence of the karmas, the soul gets into a state of weakness and then acts in a manner inimical to its natural tendencies. The affinity between the soul and the karmic matter may be explained by the fact that the former is the knower and enjoyer of the latter. The soul is the enjoyer, and the matter, the object of enjoyment; hence the relation between them is that of the subject and the object. The interaction between the soul and the matter can take place only when the former is actuated by a desire for the enjoyment of sense objects, and, conversely, matter can affect the soul only when the soul is rendered vulnerable by its passions. The man under the influence of karmas cannot resist temptations and falls prey to four types of passions - anger, pride, deceitfulness, and greed. As a consequence of the rise of passions in the soul, physical matter gets bonded with it, transforming itself into karmic matter, which then becomes known as the karmas of
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