Shloka 39
Bhakti Yoga: The Three Modes of Devotion, Non-Envy, and Time as the Lord
न चास्य कश्चिद्दयितो न द्वेष्यो न च बान्धव: । आविशत्यप्रमत्तोऽसौ प्रमत्तं जनमन्तकृत् ॥ ३९ ॥
na cāsya kaścid dayito na dveṣyo na ca bāndhavaḥ āviśaty apramatto ’sau pramattaṁ janam anta-kṛt
Pour le Bhagavān, nul n’est particulièrement cher, nul n’est haï, nul n’est parent ou ami. Mais Il inspire ceux qui ne L’oublient pas et demeurent vigilants, et Il met fin à ceux qui, par insouciance, L’ont oublié.
Forgetfulness of one’s relationship with Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the cause of one’s repeated birth and death. A living entity is as eternal as the Supreme Lord, but due to his forgetfulness he is put into this material nature and transmigrates from one body to another, and when the body is destroyed, he thinks that he is also destroyed. Actually, this forgetfulness of his relationship with Lord Viṣṇu is the cause of his destruction. Anyone who revives his consciousness of the original relationship receives inspiration from the Lord. This does not mean that the Lord is someone’s enemy and someone else’s friend. He helps everyone; one who is not bewildered by the influence of material energy is saved, and one who is bewildered is destroyed. It is therefore said, hariṁ vinā na mṛtiṁ taranti: no one can be saved from the repetition of birth and death without the help of the Supreme Lord. It is therefore the duty of all living entities to take shelter of the lotus feet of Viṣṇu and thus save themselves from the cycle of birth and death.
FAQs
This verse states that death has no favorites—no one is dear, hateful, or a relative to him—so he comes impartially, especially upon those who live carelessly.
In His bhakti teachings to Devahuti, Kapila highlights that spiritual negligence makes one vulnerable; time and death seize those absorbed in worldly intoxication and forgetful of the soul’s purpose.
Live with spiritual alertness: reduce complacency, remember life’s uncertainty, and anchor daily habits in bhakti—hearing, chanting, and serving—so time is used for lasting progress.