Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 20
Dhruva Uses the Nārāyaṇāstra; Manu Checks His Wrath and Teaches Dharma
न वै स्वपक्षोऽस्य विपक्ष एव वा परस्य मृत्योर्विशत: समं प्रजा: । तं धावमानमनुधावन्त्यनीशा यथा रजांस्यनिलं भूतसङ्घा: ॥ २० ॥
na vai sva-pakṣo ’sya vipakṣa eva vā parasya mṛtyor viśataḥ samaṁ prajāḥ taṁ dhāvamānam anudhāvanty anīśā yathā rajāṁsy anilaṁ bhūta-saṅghāḥ
إنَّ الشخصية الإلهية العليا، في هيئة الزمان الأبدي، حاضرة في العالم المادي ومحايدة تجاه الجميع؛ فلا حليف له ولا عدو. وتحت سلطان الزمن يذوق كلُّ كائنٍ حيٍّ لذّةً أو ألماً بحسب ثمرة كرمه؛ كما تتطاير ذرات الغبار إذا هبّت الريح.
Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the original cause of all causes, He is not responsible for anyone’s material sufferings or enjoyment. There is no such partiality on the part of the Supreme Lord. The less intelligent accuse the Supreme Lord of being partial and claim that this is why one enjoys in this material world and another suffers. But this verse specifically says that there is no such partiality on the part of the Supreme Lord. Living entities, however, are never independent. As soon as they declare their independence of the supreme controller, they are immediately put into this material world to try their luck freely, as far as possible. When the material world is created for such misguided living entities, they create their own karma, fruitive activities, and take advantage of the time element, and thereby they create their own fortune or misfortune. Everyone is created, everyone is maintained, and everyone is ultimately killed. As far as these three things are concerned, the Lord is equal to everyone; it is according to one’s karma that one suffers and enjoys. The living entity’s higher or lower position, his suffering and enjoying, are due to his own karma. The exact word used in this connection is anīśāḥ, which means “dependent on their own karma. ” The example is given that the government gives everyone the facilities for governmental action and management, but by one’s own choice one creates a situation which obliges him to exist under different types of consciousness. The example given in this verse is that when the wind blows, particles of dust float in the air. Gradually lightning occurs, and then torrents of rain follow, and thus the rainy season creates a situation of varieties in the forest. God is very kind — He gives everyone an equal chance — but by the resultant actions of one’s own karma one suffers or enjoys this material world.
FAQs
This verse states that for Death there is no friend or enemy—when death arrives, all living beings are treated the same, regardless of side or status.
Manu advised Dhruva to stop the excessive slaughter of the Yakshas by reminding him that death is impartial and that uncontrolled vengeance only binds one further.
Remembering death’s impartiality helps reduce hatred and revenge, encouraging forgiveness, self-control, and focus on lasting spiritual goals like devotion to the Lord.