Devanagari
भजतोऽपि न वै केचिद् भजन्त्यभजत: कुत: ।
आत्मारामा ह्याप्तकामा अकृतज्ञा गुरुद्रुह: ॥ १९ ॥
Verse text
bhajato ’pi na vai kecid
bhajanty abhajataḥ kutaḥ
ātmārāmā hy āpta-kāmā
akṛta-jṣā guru-druhaḥ
Synonyms
bhajataḥ
—
with those who are acting favorably
;
api
—
even
;
na
—
not
;
vai
—
certainly
;
kecit
—
some
;
bhajanti
—
reciprocate
;
abhajataḥ
—
with those who are not acting favorably
;
kutaḥ
—
what to speak of
;
ātma
—
ārāmāḥ — the self-satisfied
;
hi
—
indeed
;
āpta
—
kāmāḥ — those who have already attained their material desires
;
akṛta
—
jṣāḥ — those who are ungrateful
;
guru
—
druhaḥ — those who are inimical to superiors .
Translation
Then there are those individuals who are spiritually self-satisfied, materially fulfilled or by nature ungrateful or simply envious of superiors. Such persons will not love even those who love them, what to speak of those who are inimical.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Then there are those individuals who are spiritually self-satisfied, materially fulfilled or by nature ungrateful or simply envious of superiors. Such persons will not love even those who love them, what to speak of those who are inimical.
KB 10.32.19
“The third class neither reciprocate nor neglect. They can be further divided into two classes. One comprises the self-satisfied, who do not require anyone’s love. They are called ātmārāma, which means they are absorbed in the thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and so do not care whether one loves them or not. But another class comprises ungrateful men. They are called callous. The men in this group revolt against superior persons. For instance, a son, in spite of receiving all kinds of things from loving parents, may be callous and not reciprocate. Those in this class are generally known as guru-druha, which means they receive favors from the parents or the spiritual master and yet neglect them.”
Kṛṣṇa indirectly answered the questions of the gopīs, even those questions which implied that Kṛṣṇa did not properly reciprocate their dealings. In answer, Kṛṣṇa said that He, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is self-satisfied. He does not require anyone’s love, but at the same time He said that He is not ungrateful.
Purport
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.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Krsna answers the third question of the gopis.
"If some persons do not respect or respond to those who respect them, what is the question of respecting those who do not respect them. They are of four types, in decreasing value. The first is the atmarama, who does not have desire for external enjoyment, and takes delight in the self alone. The second type is the apta kama, who though he is interested in external enjoyment, has satisfied his desires, and therefore does not want enjoyment from others. The third type is the ungrateful person (akrtajna). Though he desires to take enjoyment from others, he is not aware of what others have done for him. The fourth type is the guru druha, who does not acknowledge what others have done for him, and rather shows excessive hatred towards them, showing causeless hatred. If there is cause for hatred, then that hatred is meager (not guru), but it is classed as guru droha, being of lesser degree. Hatred of one who protects one (guru) is guru droha. Injurying one who is faithful to one is guru droha. These three types of guru drohi are those who do not respect others. The example given in the answer of the first question was a selfish person. The examples given for the second question were devotees like Prahlada and mother and father. The examples given for the third question were six. Thus in all there were nine examples given.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Some indeed (vai) do not worship others whether there is reciprocation or not. Certainly (hi) the ātmārāmas are of this nature. Others do not respond because of ignorance (akrṭa-jñāḥ). They are not so sinful. But those who do not respond when knowing the other party is sincere have unlimited fault (guru-druhaḥ). This means those who intentionally disrespect persons who should be honored. That violence is like disrespecting a brāhmaṇa, which is equal to death. There is no explanation of the word druhaḥ in the verse, but its secondary meaning is “hardness of heart.” By placing Kṛṣṇa in this category, one could find fault with Kṛṣṇa. But his meaning of guru-drohaḥ is a person who is indifferent to those who act for everyone’s welfare. Such persons are devoid of considering artha, dharma, friendship and compassion.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
Some indeed (vai) do not worship others whether there is reciprocation or not. Certainly (hi) the ātmārāmas are of this nature. Hi can also mean “because.” Aṛta-jñā means those who are not aware that others act for their welfare. Though able to respond, and dependent on public opinion, because of ignorance they do not respond. They are fools. Because they are ignorant they do not respond. Those who, though knowing and capable, do not respond are utterly wicked (guru-druhaḥ)
The gopīs asked three questions in three phrases, and Kṛṣṇa answered with three verses. By the abbreviated skill of their questions, Kṛṣṇa answered to show that their glory is greater than his.
According to the gopīs, because he enjoys various pastimes with them he cannot be an ātmārāma or an ātmakāma. He is not guru-druha, since he does not offend gurus. Because he gives pain in separation, and does not respond properly, he cannot be the type of person mentioned in the previous verse who responds to those who reciprocate or not, nor is he the first type who responds because of motives. The remaining choice is akṛta-jña. It is later said akṛta-cetāḥ (SB 10 47.16). Viṣṇu Purāṇa says akṛtajñā-dvajo hi saḥ: he is the flag of ignorance. Śrīdhara Svāmī mentions akṛta-jñā as the ignorant person, and includes Kṛṣṇa in the guru-druha class. Guru-druha means “very hard” according to Śrīdhara Svāmī. By this he should be considered a guru-druha.