SB 10.20.12

SB 10.20.12

Devanagari

क्षेत्राणि शष्यसम्पद्भ‍ि: कर्षकाणां मुदं ददु: । मानिनामनुतापं वै दैवाधीनमजानताम् ॥ १२ ॥

Verse text

kṣetrāṇi śaṣya-sampadbhiḥ karṣakāṇāṁ mudaṁ daduḥ māninām anutāpaṁ vai daivādhīnam ajānatām

Synonyms

kṣetrāṇi the fields ; śaṣya sampadbhiḥ — with their wealth of grains ; karṣakāṇām to the farmers ; mudam joy ; daduḥ gave ; māninām to others who are falsely proud ; anutāpam remorse ; vai indeed ; daiva adhīnam — the control of destiny ; ajānatām not understanding .

Translation

With their wealth of grains, the fields gave joy to the farmers. But those fields created remorse in the hearts of those who were too proud to engage in farming and who failed to understand how everything is under the control of the Supreme.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

With their wealth of grains, the fields gave joy to the farmers. But those fields created remorse in the hearts of those who were too proud to engage in farming and who failed to understand how everything is under the control of the Supreme. KB 10.20.12 The farmer then becomes very happy to see his field full of grain, but the capitalists—who are always unaware of the activities of a supernatural power—become unhappy because they are afraid of a competitive price due to abundant production. In some places certain capitalists in government restrict the farmers’ production of grain, not knowing the actual fact that all food grains are supplied by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. According to the Vedic injunction, eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān: the Supreme Personality of Godhead maintains this creation; therefore, He arranges for a supply of whatever is required for all living entities. When there is a population increase, it is the business of the Supreme Lord to feed the people. But atheists or miscreants do not like abundant production of food grains, especially if their business might be hampered.

Purport

It is common for people living in large cities to become miserable and disgusted when there is ample rainfall. They do not understand or have forgotten that the rain is nourishing the crops they will eat. Although they certainly enjoy eating, they do not appreciate that with the rain the Supreme Lord is feeding not only human beings but also plants, animals and the earth itself. Modern, sophisticated people often look down their noses at those engaged in agricultural work. In fact, in American slang, a simple, unintelligent person is sometimes called “a farmer.” There are also government agencies that restrict agricultural production because certain capitalists fear the effect on market prices. Because of various artificial and manipulative practices in modern governments, we find widespread food shortages throughout the world — even in the United States, among the poverty-stricken — and at the same time we find the governments paying farmers not to plant crops. Sometimes these governments throw huge amounts of food into the ocean. Thus the administration of the arrogant and ignorant, those who are too proud to obey the laws of God or too ignorant to recognize them, will always cause frustration among the people, whereas a God conscious government will provide abundance and happiness for all.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The proud man says ,"Farming is a low job which I cannot do." But when the fields yield their wealth in crops he regrets, "If I had done some farming I would get wealth during the rainy season." In this way the fields give joy to the farmer, and pain to the lazy man, because such a person does not understand that his suffering is under the law of karma. Similarly, seeing the man on nivrtti marga attain liberation, the man performing pravrtti marga laments. This example is not attractive to the devotee.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

The word vai indicates “completely.” By the wealth of grains the fields gave joy to the farmers, and by not having grains the fields give grief, since, identifying with the body completely, they did not know everything is under control of karma, just as proud men rejoice or grieve for their wealth or loss of it.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

The word vai indicates “completely.” The wealth of the ignorant gives grief (anutāpam). Just as houses or bodies (kṣeterāṇi) give joy and suffering by wealth of grains etc. to those ignorant of the fact that they are controlled by karma, who think they are their bodies or are proud (māninām) of their wealth, so the fields give joy to the farmers by the abundance of grain. Or vai means but. People after travelling around think they are conquerors of the world, get wealth of grains from the field but (vai) then experience suffering when there is opposition to their position as conquerors. Why? They are ignorant that their conquest and wealth of grains depends on the Lord. Just as grains give joy to the wise, they give sorrow to the people who think they are wise and to the fools, since they perform sinful acts. Or just as those ignorant of the Lord’s control get suffering and those who respect the Lord’s control get joy, so the farmer gets joy.