तत्रापि कर्मणां कर्तुरस्वातन्त्र्यं च लक्ष्यते । भोक्तुश्च दु:खसुखयो: को न्वर्थो विवशं भजेत् ॥ १७ ॥
tatrāpi karmaṇāṁ kartur asvātantryaṁ ca lakṣyate bhoktuś ca duḥkha-sukhayoḥ ko nv artho vivaśaṁ bhajet
- tatra
- in the matter of one’s ability to obtain happiness
- api
- furthermore
- karmaṇām
- of fruitive activities
- kartuḥ
- of the performer
- asvātantryam
- the lack of independence
- ca
- also
- lakṣyate
- is clearly seen
- bhoktuḥ
- of the one who is trying to enjoy
- ca
- also
- duḥkha-sukhayoḥ
- happiness and unhappiness
- kaḥ
- what
- nu
- indeed
- arthaḥ
- value
- vivaśam
- for one who is not in control
- bhajet
- can be derived
Although the performer of fruitive activities desires perpetual happiness, it is clearly observed that materialistic workers are often unhappy and only occasionally satisfied, thus proving that they are not independent or in control of their destiny. When a person is always under the superior control of another, how can he expect any valuable results from his own fruitive actions?