CC Madhya 24.25 (1975)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 25
- 'kurvanti'-pada ei parasmaipada haya
- kṛṣṇa-sukha-nimitta bhajane tātparya kahaya
SYNONYMS
kurvanti—they do (for others); pada—the word; ei—this; parasmaipada—a verb form indicating things done for others; haya—is; kṛṣṇa-sukha-nimitta—to satisfy Kṛṣṇa; bhajane—in devotional service; tātparya—the purport; kahaya—is said.
TRANSLATION
"The word kurvanti, which means 'they do something for others,' is a form of the verb 'things done for others.' It is used in connection with devotional service, which must be executed for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. That is the purport of the word kurvanti.
PURPORT
In Sanskrit the verb "to do" has two forms, technically called parasmaipada and ātmanepada. When things are done for one's personal satisfaction, the form is called ātmanepada. In that case, the word "do" in English is kurvante in Sanskrit. When things are done for others, the verb form changes to kurvanti. Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed Sanātana Gosvāmī that in the ātmārāma verse the verb kurvanti means that things should be done only for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. This is supported by the grammarian Pāṇini. The verb is formed as ātmanepada when the work is to be done for one's own benefit, and when it is done for others, it is called parasmaipada. Thus the verb is formed according to whether something is done for one's self-satisfaction or for another's satisfaction.