Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.32.19
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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ātma - ārāmāḥ
—
the self-satisfied
Compound: ātman (self) + ārāma (pleasure-garden, satisfaction). The ātmārāmas are jñānīs and ṛṣis who find pleasure within their own realized ātmā. Bhāgavata 1.7.10 famously says even these ātmārāmas turn to Bhagavān's līlās — but here Kṛṣṇa names them as not reciprocating with worshipers.
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āpta - kāmāḥ
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those who have attained their material desires
Compound: āpta (attained) + kāma (desire). The fully-fed have nothing to ask. They do not love because they need nothing — a higher version of the merchant problem. Gauḍīyas note: only the bhakta's prema-kāma is structurally unfillable, which is its glory.
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akṛta - jñāḥ
—
the ungrateful
Compound: a- (not) + kṛta-jña (knowing what was done for one). Kṛta-jñatā (gratitude) is a primary virtue in dharma-śāstra. Akṛta-jñas violate the most basic obligation — they do not even register what was done for them.
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guru - druhaḥ
—
those inimical to superiors
Compound: guru (superior, teacher) + druh (one who injures). The guru-druh class are the worst — those who actively oppose elders. Gauḍīyas hold guru-droha as one of the ten nāma-aparādhas (offenses against the Holy Name).
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kutaḥ
—
what to speak of
Interrogative adverb: 'from where? how then?' Kutaḥ structures a fortiori reasoning in Sanskrit: 'if not even with those who love them, then how with those who don't?' Kṛṣṇa uses the construction to indict the third class without further elaboration.
Some people, being spiritually self-satisfied, do not reciprocate others’ affection because they want to avoid entanglement in mundane dealings. Other persons do not reciprocate simply out of envy or arrogance. And still others fail to reciprocate because they are materially satisfied and thus uninterested in new material opportunities. Lord Kṛṣṇa patiently explains all these things to the gopīs.
Krsna answers the third question of the gopis. "If some persons do not respect or respond to those who respect them, what is the question of respecting those who do not respect them. They are of four types, in decreasing value. The first is the atmarama, who does not have desire for external enjoyment, and takes delight in the self alone. The second type is the apta kama, who though he is interested in external enjoyment, has satisfied his desires, and therefore does not want enjoyment from others. The third type is the ungrateful person (akrtajna). Though he desires to take enjoyment from others, he is not aware of what others have done for him. The fourth type is the guru druha, who does not acknowledge what others have done for him, and rather shows excessive hatred towards them, showing causeless hatred. If there is cause for hatred, then that hatred is meager (not guru), but it is classed as guru droha, being of lesser degree. Hatred of one who protects one (guru) is guru droha. Injurying one who is faithful to one is guru droha. These three types of guru drohi are those who do not respect others. The example given in the answer of the first question was a selfish person. The examples given for the second question were devotees like Prahlada and mother and father. The examples given for the third question were six. Thus in all there were nine examples given.
Some indeed (vai) do not worship others whether there is reciprocation or not. Certainly (hi) the ātmārāmas are of this nature. Others do not respond because of ignorance (akrṭa-jñāḥ). They are not so sinful. But those who do not respond when knowing the other party is sincere have unlimited fault (guru-druhaḥ). This means those who intentionally disrespect persons who should be honored. That violence is like disrespecting a brāhmaṇa, which is equal to death. There is no explanation of the word druhaḥ in the verse, but its secondary meaning is “hardness of heart.” By placing Kṛṣṇa in this category, one could find fault with Kṛṣṇa. But his meaning of guru-drohaḥ is a person who is indifferent to those who act for everyone’s welfare. Such persons are devoid of considering artha, dharma, friendship and compassion.
Some indeed (vai) do not worship others whether there is reciprocation or not. Certainly (hi) the ātmārāmas are of this nature. Hi can also mean “because.” Aṛta-jñā means those who are not aware that others act for their welfare. Though able to respond, and dependent on public opinion, because of ignorance they do not respond. They are fools. Because they are ignorant they do not respond. Those who, though knowing and capable, do not respond are utterly wicked (guru-druhaḥ) The gopīs asked three questions in three phrases, and Kṛṣṇa answered with three verses. By the abbreviated skill of their questions, Kṛṣṇa answered to show that their glory is greater than his. According to the gopīs, because he enjoys various pastimes with them he cannot be an ātmārāma or an ātmakāma. He is not guru-druha, since he does not offend gurus. Because he gives pain in separation, and does not respond properly, he cannot be the type of person mentioned in the previous verse who responds to those who reciprocate or not, nor is he the first type who responds because of motives. The remaining choice is akṛta-jña. It is later said akṛta-cetāḥ (SB 10 47.16). Viṣṇu Purāṇa says akṛtajñā-dvajo hi saḥ: he is the flag of ignorance. Śrīdhara Svāmī mentions akṛta-jñā as the ignorant person, and includes Kṛṣṇa in the guru-druha class. Guru-druha means “very hard” according to Śrīdhara Svāmī. By this he should be considered a guru-druha.
- Which of these four causes of unresponsiveness most often blocks your love for Kṛṣṇa?
- Where do you mistake spiritual self-satisfaction for genuine detachment?
Kṛṣṇa names a third class — those self-satisfied (ātmārāmā), those whose desires are already met (āpta-kāmā), the ungrateful, those inimical to elders — who reciprocate no love at all. The implicit Vraja-point: the gopīs are none of these. They are unconditionally devoted, and so they ascend beyond every category He has named.
My note
Source: vedabase.io