Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 12
Vṛtrāsura Instructs Indra on Providence and Devotion; The Slaying of Vṛtrāsura
अविद्वानेवमात्मानं मन्यतेऽनीशमीश्वरम् । भूतै: सृजति भूतानि ग्रसते तानि तै: स्वयम् ॥ १२ ॥
avidvān evam ātmānaṁ manyate ’nīśam īśvaram bhūtaiḥ sṛjati bhūtāni grasate tāni taiḥ svayam
Orang bodoh yang tak berakal tidak memahami Pribadi Tuhan Yang Mahatinggi; meski selalu bergantung, ia mengira dirinya penguasa. Menganggap tubuh dicipta oleh ayah-ibu dan dimusnahkan oleh agen lain bukanlah pemahaman benar; Tuhan sendirilah yang mencipta dan menelan makhluk melalui makhluk lain.
According to the conclusion of the philosophy known as karma-mīmāṁsā, one’s karma, or previous fruitive activity, is the cause of everything, and therefore there is no need to work. Those who arrive at this conclusion are foolish. When a father creates a child, he does not do so independently; he is induced to do so by the Supreme Lord. As the Lord Himself says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15) , sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca: “I am in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.” Unless one receives dictation from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who sits within everyone’s heart, one cannot be induced to create anything. Therefore the father and mother are not the creators of the living entity. According to the living entity’s karma, fruitive activities, he is put into the semen of the father, who injects the living entity into the womb of the mother. Then according to the body of the mother and father ( yathā-yoni yathā-bījam ), the living entity accepts a body and takes birth to suffer or enjoy. Therefore the Supreme Lord is the original cause of one’s birth. Similarly, the Supreme Lord is the cause of one’s being killed. No one is independent; everyone is dependent. The true conclusion is that the only independent person is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
This verse explains that due to ignorance the jīva imagines himself īśvara (the controller), but he is actually anīśa (powerless), acting through material elements and ultimately being overcome by them.
In the context of Vṛtrāsura’s exalted devotion, the Bhagavatam contrasts genuine surrender with the conditioned soul’s false ego, highlighting that real greatness is humility before the Supreme Lord.
Recognize that outcomes are not fully in one’s control, reduce egoistic doership, act responsibly, and cultivate devotion and dependence on the Supreme rather than pride in personal power.