Devanagari
किमिन्द्रेणेह भूतानां स्वस्वकर्मानुवर्तिनाम्
अनीशेनान्यथा कर्तुं स्वभावविहितं नृणाम् ॥ १५ ॥
Verse text
kim indreṇeha bhūtānāṁ
sva-sva-karmānuvartinām
anīśenānyathā kartuṁ
svabhāva-vihitaṁ nṛṇām
Synonyms
kim
—
what
;
indreṇa
—
with Indra
;
iha
—
here
;
bhūtānām
—
for living entities
;
sva
—
sva — each their own
;
karma
—
of fruitive action
;
anuvartinām
—
who are experiencing the consequences
;
anīśena
—
(Indra) who is incapable
;
anyathā
—
otherwise
;
kartum
—
to make
;
svabhāva
—
by their conditioned natures
;
vihitam
—
that which is ordained
;
nṛṇām
—
for men .
Translation
Living beings in this world are forced to experience the consequences of their own particular previous work. Since Lord Indra cannot in any way change the destiny of human beings, which is born of their own nature, why should people worship him?
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Living beings in this world are forced to experience the consequences of their own particular previous work. Since Lord Indra cannot in any way change the destiny of human beings, which is born of their own nature, why should people worship him?
KB 10.24.15
“My dear Father,” Lord Kṛṣṇa said, “there is no need to worship the demigod Indra. Everyone has to achieve the result of his own work. We can actually see that one becomes busy according to the natural tendency of his work;
Purport
Lord Kṛṣṇa’s argument here is not a negation of free will. If one accepts the existence of
karma
as a system of laws awarding reactions for our present activities, then we ourselves, according to our nature, will decide our future. Our happiness and distress in this life have already been adjudicated and fixed according to our previous activities, and not even the demigods can change that. They must award us the prosperity or poverty, sickness or health, happiness or distress due us by our previous work. However, we still retain the freedom to select a pious or impious mode of activity in this life, and the choice we make will determine our future suffering and enjoyment.
For example, if I was pious in my last life, in this life the demigods may award me great material wealth. But I am free to spend my riches for good or for bad purposes, and my choice will determine my future life. Thus, although no one can change the karmic results due him in this life, everyone still retains his free will, by which he determines what his future situation will be. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s argument here is quite interesting; however, it neglects the overriding consideration that we are all eternal servants of God and must satisfy Him by all that we do.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
The devatas have no function at all; they are like the nipples on the neck of a goat. Thus, he says that there is no need to worship Indra because people are simply reaping their inevitable karma. There may be an objection,"Action can not take place unless the supersoul instigates it. Thus, how can you say that the devatas have no function?"
"The supersoul inspires the soul in order to perform actions dictated by his previous impressions (svabhava), and for no other purpose. As it is impossible to do anything except those actions decitated by previous impressions, what can worship of Indra do? It can have no effect."
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
What is the use of Indra for all living beings who follow their actions, who experience happiness and suffering according to previous actions? Action is the cause of their experiences. What can incapable Indra do to reverse the individual nature of people who have earned that position by action? Their nature is the cause of producing their actions.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
Nābhuktaṁ kṣīyate karma: without experiencing it, karma cannot be destroyed. Because one must experience one’s prārabdha karmas, everyone follows karma. Though men can overcome their natures by discriminating knowledge, still they cannot change their karma. What to speak of others.