Shloka 19
भजतोऽपि न वै केचिद् भजन्त्यभजत: कुत: । आत्मारामा ह्याप्तकामा अकृतज्ञा गुरुद्रुह: ॥ १९ ॥
bhajato ’pi na vai kecid bhajanty abhajataḥ kutaḥ ātmārāmā hy āpta-kāmā akṛta-jñā guru-druhaḥ
And there are those who will not love even those who love them—what to speak of enemies. They may be self-satisfied, materially fulfilled, or by nature ungrateful and envious of those above them.
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.
FAQs
This verse highlights that not everyone reciprocates even when worshiped or served; true bhakti is marked by grateful, responsive relationship, unlike the self-absorbed or ungrateful mentality.
In the Rāsa-līlā conversation, Kṛṣṇa addresses the dynamics of love and response; He contrasts sincere devotional reciprocation with attitudes that are self-satisfied, ungrateful, or even offensive—clarifying what real relationship in bhakti is not.
Cultivate gratitude and reciprocity—especially toward teachers, parents, mentors, and devotees—and avoid the mindset of entitlement or self-satisfaction that ignores others’ kindness.