Shloka 12
Lord Viṣṇu Instructs Pṛthu: Forgiveness, Ātmā-Deha Viveka, and the Bhakti Ideal of Kingship
भिन्नस्य लिङ्गस्य गुणप्रवाहो द्रव्यक्रियाकारकचेतनात्मन: । दृष्टासु सम्पत्सु विपत्सु सूरयो न विक्रियन्ते मयि बद्धसौहृदा: ॥ १२ ॥
bhinnasya liṅgasya guṇa-pravāho dravya-kriyā-kāraka-cetanātmanaḥ dṛṣṭāsu sampatsu vipatsu sūrayo na vikriyante mayi baddha-sauhṛdāḥ
Lord Viṣṇu told King Pṛthu: Dear King, the ceaseless changes of this material world arise from the interaction of the three guṇas. The five elements, the senses, the presiding devas of the senses, and the mind stirred by the soul—together these make up the body. But the spirit soul is wholly different from this gross and subtle combination; therefore My devotee, bound to Me in deep friendship and love and established in knowledge, is never disturbed by material happiness or distress.
The question may be raised that if the living entity has to act as the superintendent of the activities of the bodily combination, then how can he be indifferent to the activities of the body? The answer is given here: these activities are completely different from the activities of the spirit soul of the living entity. A crude example can be given in this connection: A businessman riding in a motorcar sits in the car, supervises its running and advises the driver. He knows how much gasoline is used up, and he knows everything about the car, but still he is apart from the car and is more concerned with his business. Even while riding in the car, he thinks of his business and his office. He has no connection with the car, although he is sitting there. As the businessman is always absorbed in thoughts of his business, so the living entity can be absorbed in thoughts of rendering loving service to the Lord. Then it will be possible to remain separate from the activities of the material body. This position of neutrality can be possible only for a devotee.
FAQs
This verse says that wise devotees fixed in friendship with the Lord are not disturbed by prosperity or adversity, even while living within a body influenced by the guṇas.
In Canto 4 Chapter 20, the Lord instructs and blesses Pṛthu by describing the steadiness of devotees, encouraging him toward unwavering bhakti beyond the shifting material modes.
Anchor your identity in devotion to God rather than circumstances; then success and setbacks are met with steadiness, because affection and trust are fixed in the Lord.