na kartṛitvaṁ na karmāṇi lokasya sṛijati prabhuḥ
na karma-phala-saṅyogaṁ svabhāvas tu pravartate
na — neither;
kartṛitvam — sense of doership;
na — nor;
karmāṇi — actions;
lokasya — of the people;
sṛijati — creates;
prabhuḥ — God;
na — nor;
karma-phala — fruits of actions;
sanyogam — connection;
svabhāvaḥ — one’s nature;
tu — but;
pravartate — is enacted
In this verse, we learn that the true essence of a person, often called the 'embodied spirit', does not actually make things happen or cause others to act. Think of a person as being like a driver of a car, where the car represents the body. The real driver, or the spirit, is separate from the car and is not directly responsible for everything the car does. Instead, the actions and behaviors we see are influenced by nature, much like how a car is affected by the road conditions, weather, or traffic rules.
The verse tells us that a person does not create their actions or control the outcomes of those actions – these are shaped by 'material nature', which includes all the things around us in the world. Take, for example, someone who gets angry. The anger isn’t something they consciously create; it’s a reaction to a situation influenced by their upbringing, environment, or even mood at the moment.
We often think we are in control of our lives and what happens in them. However, this verse suggests that many of our decisions and the results we face stem from our natural inclinations and characteristics, also known as 'svabhava'. It’s like being on a roller coaster: you sit in the cart and can’t control where it goes, but you experience the thrills and drops as it rides along its tracks.
For a long time, many people mix up their true self with their physical body, leading to misunderstanding and suffering. This is similar to someone thinking they are just their job title or their appearance, forgetting that they are much more than that. The mistakes and pains that come our way due to misidentification lead to suffering – like being caught in a storm when you’re not prepared.
To truly find peace and happiness, one needs to understand that they are not their body or its reactions. The path to relief from this turmoil lies in better awareness and connection to a higher purpose or truth, often referred to as being 'in Krishna consciousness'. It’s about realizing that the true self is separate from the body and that by focusing on this spiritual understanding, one can navigate through life's challenges without being buffeted by every external situation. Just as knowing how a car works helps you drive it better, understanding your spiritual nature helps you live a better life.