SB 1.17.18

Synonyms

[Although Dharma understood that Parīkṣit’s question in this matter (in verse 12) was about the direct perpetrator of violence, he felt that it would be inappropriate to identify the latter, considering him to be merely the secondary agent (tatra sākṣād-dhiṁsā-kartṛ-gataḥ praśno’yam iti jñātvā’pi sūcakatā na yukteti tasyāpi gauṇatvaṁ matvā). He thus responded as if to suggest that the true agent or cause was undetermined, even by reference to the authoritative teachings concerning the impelling agent behind all action (tat-prayojaka-kartṛ-gatatvena siddhāntayan api anirdhāritam ivāha). This is shown in the following three verses (na vayam iti tribhiḥ).⁹⁸]; puruṣa-ṛṣabha — O foremost of men; vimohitāḥ — being confused; vākya-bheda — [by] the conflicting statements [of the proponents of different paths (yato vādināṁ vākya-bhedhaiḥ)⁹⁹]; vayam — we; na vijānīmaḥ — do not know; tam — that; puruṣam — person [Īśvara, because He is beyond the range of all cognition (īśvaraṁ sarvāgocaratvāt)¹⁰⁰]; yataḥ — by the influence of whom [yasmāt puruṣāt¹⁰¹]; kleśa-bījāni — the causes of misery [(duḥkha-kāraṇāni);¹⁰² for living beings (prāṇināṁ kleśa-hetavaḥ)]; syuḥ — come to be [bhaveyuḥ].

Translation