Sambodhi 2006 Vol 30

Author(s): J B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 52

46
RAMKRISHNA BHATTACHARYA
SAMBODHI
prefer to give a Vaişņava twist to the whole passage. Let us take a frest look here.
Nanda was getting ready for worshipping Indra. Young Krşna wanted to know the occasion. Nanda said to him, "The great god Indra is (the presiding deity of) rainfall itself and clouds are his loving manifestation. To this Krsna replied:
karmaṇā jāyate jantuḥ karmaņaiva viliyate/ sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ bhayaṁ kşemaṁ karmanaivābhipadyatell asti cedişvaraḥ kaścit phalarūpyanyakarmaņām/ kartāraṁ bhajate so'pi na hyakartuh prabhurhi saḥ// kimindriyeneha bhūtānāṁ svasvakarmānuvartinām/ anibenānyathā kartūí svabhāvavihitaṁ nrņām// svabhāvatantro hi janah svabhāvamanuvartate/ svabhāvasthamidaṁ sarvaṁ sadevāsuramānuşam// dehānuccāvacān jantuḥ prāpyotsrjati karmaņā satrumitramudāsinah karmaiva gururiśvaraḥ// tasmāt sampūjayet karma svabhāvasthaḥ svakarmarkst/ añjasā yena varteta tadevāsya hi daivatam// (10.24.13-18). A being comes into existence only by its own past beings (karma), and passes away only through the force of its own karmas. It is only through the instrumentality of one's past actions that the being experiences worldly pleasures, pain, fear or blessings (hereafter). (The favour and disfavour of a divinity is immaterial and irrelevant).
If there be any authority like the Supreme Ruler to dispense fruits of action of others, and if he were to resort to confer fruits of the deeds on the doer of the action, and he will have no control over him who abstain from commiting any act.
What power can Indra exercise on beings who follow the course of their actions (and experience the resulting fruit)? He is incapable of modifying its destined course of action of human beings according to their own individual nature.
People are the slaves of their Nature, and follow their own individual natural disposition and proclivities. The whole world of gods, asuras (demons) and human beings thus has their being