Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan

So in this verse Krishna is talking about firstly Purusha and Prakriti are eternal but the changes are produced by Prakriti then the question will come up changes are produced by Prakriti, is Prakriti experiencing emotions, who is experiencing emotions and how? That is discussed in next verse.

Bg 13.21

kārya-kāraṇa-kartṛtve
hetuḥ prakṛtir ucyate
puruṣaḥ sukha-duḥkhānāṁ
bhoktṛtve hetur ucyate

Synonyms: 

kārya — of effect; kāraṇa — and cause; kartṛtve — in the matter of creation; hetuḥ — the instrument; prakṛtiḥ — material nature; ucyate — is said to be; puruṣaḥ — the living entity; sukha — of happiness; duḥkhānām — and distress; bhoktṛtve — in enjoyment; hetuḥ — the instrument; ucyate — is said to be.

Translation: 

Nature is said to be the cause of all material causes and effects, whereas the living entity is the cause of the various sufferings and enjoyments in this world.

 

kārya-kāraṇa-kartṛtve, kartṛtve means in the matter of creation 

hetuḥ prakṛtir ucyate, hetuḥ means the instrument or the cause so as far as cause and effects are concerned material nature is the cause. But as far as enjoyment are concerned Purusha is the cause.

kārya-kāraṇa are the cause and effect 

generally the word hetuḥ can also refer to cause 

so the material nature is the cause of all cause and effects 

and enjoyment mentality bhoktṛtve is the cause of Shukha and Dukha for Purusha.

E.g. when a person watch the movie the desire to watch the movie bhoktṛtve leads to puruṣaḥ sukha-duḥkhānāṁ. There will be some happiness and some distress, and if the person decides not to watch the movie then there is neither happiness not the distress. 

Similarly one experience happiness and distress because of one’s enjoying mentality bhoktṛtve. Because of enjoying mentality person starts watching the movie and because of that happiness and distress comes up. 

So even if there is no observer certain things will be happening to movie screen that is caused by prakriti. 

So things will happen in material world but our enjoyment and distress depends on how much we identify with it.

So here Krishna is clearly differentiating matter and spirit. 

The soul becomes entangled because of bhoktṛtve.

SP Purport:

Vedas (Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 3.1.1) as follows: dvā suparṇā sayujā sakhāyaḥ.

dvā suparṇā, there are two birds 

sayujā sakhāyaḥ, they are in the body

SP Purport: Once placed in some particular kind of body, he comes under the control of nature because the body, being matter, acts according to the laws of nature. At that time, the living entity has no power to change that law. Suppose an entity is put into the body of a dog. As soon as he is put into the body of a dog, he must act like a dog.

So what the person can do and what the person can’t do that is determined by the body the person is put into. 

Functions of body is largely determined by material nature what is possible and what is not possible but the consequences in terms of emotional responses of those actions they are caused by bhoktṛtve.

End of transcription.