according to one’s particular karma, one suffers or enjoys material life

SB 4.11.20

na vai sva-pakṣo ’sya vipakṣa eva vā

parasya mṛtyor viśataḥ samaṁ prajāḥ

taṁ dhāvamānam anudhāvanty anīśā

yathā rajāṁsy anilaṁ bhūta-saṅghāḥ

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His feature of eternal time, is present in the material world and is neutral towards everyone. No one is His ally, and no one is His enemy. Within the jurisdiction of the time element, everyone enjoys or suffers the result of his own karma, or fruitive activities. As, when the wind blows, small particles of dust fly in the air, so, according to one’s particular karma, one suffers or enjoys material life.

PURPORT

Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the original cause of all causes, He is not responsible for anyone’s material sufferings or enjoyment. There is no such partiality on the part of the Supreme Lord. The less intelligent accuse the Supreme Lord of being partial and claim that this is why one enjoys in this material world and another suffers. But this verse specifically says that there is no such partiality on the part of the Supreme Lord. Living entities, however, are never independent. As soon as they declare their independence of the supreme controller, they are immediately put into this material world to try their luck freely, as far as possible. When the material world is created for such misguided living entities, they create their own karma, fruitive activities, and take advantage of the time element, and thereby they create their own fortune or misfortune. Everyone is created, everyone is maintained, and everyone is ultimately killed. As far as these three things are concerned, the Lord is equal to everyone; it is according to one’s karma that one suffers and enjoys. The living entity’s higher or lower position, his suffering and enjoying, are due to his own karma. The exact word used in this connection is anīśāḥ, which means “dependent on their own karma.” The example is given that the government gives everyone the facilities for governmental action and management, but by one’s own choice one creates a situation which obliges him to exist under different types of consciousness. The example given in this verse is that when the wind blows, particles of dust float in the air. Gradually lightning occurs, and then torrents of rain follow, and thus the rainy season creates a situation of varieties in the forest. God is very kind—He gives everyone an equal chance—but by the resultant actions of one’s own karma one suffers or enjoys this material world.

The Aim of Human life

 

Baden  bhaag  maanush  tan paavaa,

Sur durlabh sab granthanhin gaavaa.

                                                            (Manas 7.43.4)

Therefore we should sincerely devote ourselves from our heart to attain God-realization and should not miss this golden opportunity.

 

This Kali-age (Kaliyuga) is the age in which God-realization can be attained much more easily thaen in the other three ages. But how harmful and shameful it is to waste that time of human body in enjoying worldly pleasures and doing sins and injustice! The sacred books, our own intellect and the society—all consider these sinful actions highly unjust and disgraceful. Now the question is what to do?

 

There is no use crying over split milk. Take a firm determination today that in future you will neither waste your time nor commit sins nor do injustice but try to find out means to have devotion to God and to realize Him at the earliest.

 

Listen to what I say. It is within your power to realize God because this human body has been bestowed upon you for this very purpose. Every human being is free in God-realization, no one is dependent, while it is not within your power to become a millionaire or a landlord or get honour and fame. Therefore the main goal of this human body is to attain Him. But a human being does not pay attention to it.

 

It is said in the Raamacaritamaanasa:—

Kabahunk kari karunaa nar dehi, Det es binu hetu sanehi.

                                                                                   (7.44.3)

 

Pay attention to this verse. It is mentioned here that God, a well-wisher without reason by His grace, has bestowed this human body upon us. So we should be free from sorrows and attain Him. The implication to be understood is that God has an intention for our benediction. So if we make a little effort, His intention may come true.

 

Man does not pay attention to the fact that God by His grace has bestowed this human body upon him, believing that he will attain Him. But if he does not attain Him, it means nothing but betrayal towards Him. It is a great loss to commit sins such as falsehood and fraud etc,. in this human life.

Take a firm decision that from today onwards you will not commit sinful and unjust actions but attain God-realization. Just as a businessman tries to find out the commodity which may be more profitable to him, in the same way you should try to find out the means to realize God. If you meet a saint or an exalted soul, who has attained God, ask him how to develop devotion to God and attain Hin and be free from bondage of worldly life, Therefore arouse the true desire so that you may definitely attain Him as is expressed in the Raamacaritamaanasa:—

Jehin ken jehi par satya sanehu, So tehi milai na kachhu sandehu.

                                                                                                      (1.259.3)

 

Naaraayana! Naaraayana! Naaraayana!

Goal of Human Life by Swamiji Ramsukhdasji

God, by showering His grace has blessed us with four things - 1) this human life, 2) the understanding 3) the means and 4) the capabilities. These four things have been given to us primarily for the purpose of realizing the Truth (attaining salvation, God or Self Realization).

A very important point here is that the time, the means, the understanding and the competencies that we currently have, if we engage them all in realizing the Truth (God, Self) then perfection (realization) in human life can be achieved. 
We have already been provided all that is needed for God Realization. And if there is any thing lacking (deficiencies), then God will fulfill those deficiencies Himself. The kingdom of God is open at all times for everyone.

It is said in the Ramcharitramanasa - "Kabahu kari karunaa ner dehi; Det is binu hetu sanehi." (Manasa 7:43:3)
In man there is a feeling of uncertainty, how can I realize God? However, this life, this birth is only for this purpose. There is no other purpose. Yet deep within us lingers this thought, this subtle doubt, that are we really capable ? 
Are we really worthy? This feeling of unworthiness, is the greatest obstacle in realizing God. Just like a mother always accepts her child in her lap, no matter how good or bad he is. The child is ever entitled to be in his mother's lap. Similarly we are all eligible for God Realization, no matter what we are.

God says in the Gita "Api chetsuduraachaaro, bhajate maam ananya bhaak
Saadhureva sa mantavyah samyagvyavasitohi saha" (Gita 9:30)
Simply speaking, even if the worst of sinners becomes Mine, he should be considered a saint, because he is determined to turn towards Me, says God. Only due to his firm determination. Once this determination is made, can wrongful actions become obstacles in God Realization? Is God so very weak that He will be stalled by few actions?

Pay attention to this verse. It is mentioned here that God, is a well-wisher without any motive, and simply by His grace He has bestowed this human life on us, so that we can become free from sorrows and attain Him. The implication here is that God intends for our upliftment, our benediction. So with a little effort on our part, His intention will come true.

In summary the purpose of life is to serve others, to realize the truth (Self) and to believe that God is our very own. It is for these, that this human life, this human birth has been received.