SB 10.24.16
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Please note: The synonyms, translation and purport of this verse were composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TEXT 16
- svabhāva-tantro hi janaḥ
- svabhāvam anuvartate
- svabhāva-stham idaṁ sarvaṁ
- sa-devāsura-mānuṣam
SYNONYMS
svabhāva — of his conditioned nature; tantraḥ — under the control; janaḥ — a person; svabhāvam — his nature; anuvartate — he follows; svabhāva-stham — based on conditioned propensities; idam — this world; sarvam — entire; sa — together with; deva — the demigods; asura — the demons; mānuṣam — and humankind.
Translation and purport composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TRANSLATION
Every individual is under the control of his own conditioned nature, and thus he must follow that nature. This entire universe, with all its demigods, demons and human beings, is based on the conditioned nature of the living entities.
PURPORT
Lord Kṛṣṇa here elaborates upon the argument given in the previous verse. Since everything depends on svabhāva, or one's conditioned nature, why bother worshiping God or the demigods? This argument would be sublime if svabhāva, or conditioned nature, were all-powerful. But unfortunately it is not. There is a supreme controller and we must worship Him, as Lord Kṛṣṇa will emphatically reveal in this chapter of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. For now, however, He is content to tease His relatives.