FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.17.19

नैवात्मा न परश्चापि कर्ता स्यात् सुखदु:खयो: । कर्तारं मन्यतेऽत्राज्ञ आत्मानं परमेव च ॥ १९ ॥
naivātmā na paraś cāpi
[naivaatmaa na parash chaapi]
kartā syāt sukha-duḥkhayoḥ
[kartaa syaat sukha-duhkhayoh]
kartāraṁ manyate ’trājña
[kartaaram manyate ’traajna]
ātmānaṁ param eva ca
[aatmaanam param eva cha]
na — not eva — indeed ātmā — the spirit soul na — nor paraḥ — another (friend or enemy) ca — also api — indeed kartā — the doer syāt — can be sukha-duḥkhayoḥ — of happiness and distress kartāram — the doer manyate — considers atra — in this connection ajñaḥ — a person not aware of the real fact ātmānam — himself param — another eva — indeed ca — also.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
naivātmā na paraś cāpi
na
not
kartā syāt sukha-duḥkhayoḥ
kartāraṁ manyate ’trājña
ātmānaṁ param eva ca
eva
indeed
ātmā
the spirit soul
na
nor
paraḥ
another (friend or enemy)
ca
also
api
indeed
kartā
the doer
syāt
can be
sukha-duḥkhayoḥ
of happiness and distress
kartāram
the doer
manyate
considers
atra
in this connection
ajñaḥ
a person not aware of the real fact
ātmānam
himself
param
another
eva
indeed
ca
also.
In this material world, neither the living entity himself nor others [friends and enemies] are the cause of material happiness and distress. But because of gross ignorance, the living entity thinks that he and others are the cause.

In this verse the word ajña is very significant. In the material world, all living entities are ajña, ignorant, in different degrees. This ignorance continues very strongly in the mode of ignorance presented by material nature. One must therefore promote himself to the stage of goodness through his character and behavior and then gradually come to the transcendental platform, or adhokṣaja platform, in which he realizes both his position and the position of others. Everything is done under the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The process by which the results of action are ordained is called niyatam, always working.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
In this material world, neither the living entity nor others are the cause of material happiness and distress. But because of ignorance, the living entity thinks that he and others are the cause. Aprajñaḥ means “with no discrimination.” [Note: This seems to be a different version.]
Neither one's self nor others is the cause of material happiness and distress; gross ignorance makes us think so. Even self-blame is partly ignorance.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I split between blaming self and others while missing the actual cause?
  • What is the real cause I keep dancing around?
📝 My note

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