FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.22.24

श्रीभगवानुवाच ब्रह्मन् यमनुगृह्णामि तद्विशो विधुनोम्यहम् । यन्मद: पुरुष: स्तब्धो लोकं मां चावमन्यते ॥ २४ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
[shree-bhagavaan uvaacha]
brahman yam anugṛhṇāmi
[brahman yam anugrihnaami]
tad-viśo vidhunomy aham
[tad-visho vidhunomy aham]
yan-madaḥ puruṣaḥ stabdho
[yan-madah purushah stabdho]
lokaṁ māṁ cāvamanyate
[lokam maam chaavamanyate]
Word-for-word
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said brahman — O Lord Brahmā yam — unto anyone to whom anugṛhṇāmi — I show My mercy tat — his viśaḥ — material opulence or riches vidhunomi — take away aham — I yat-madaḥ — having false prestige due to this money puruṣaḥ — such a person stabdhaḥ — being dull-minded lokam — the three worlds mām ca — unto Me also avamanyate — derides.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
the Supreme Personality of Godhead said
brahman yam anugṛhṇāmi
brahman
O Lord Brahmā
yam
unto anyone to whom
anugṛhṇāmi
I show My mercy
tad-viśo vidhunomy aham
tat
his
viśaḥ
material opulence or riches
vidhunomi
take away
aham
I
yan-madaḥ puruṣaḥ stabdho
yat-madaḥ
having false prestige due to this money
puruṣaḥ
such a person
stabdhaḥ
being dull-minded
lokaṁ māṁ cāvamanyate
lokam
the three worlds
mām ca
unto Me also
avamanyate
derides.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Lord Brahmā, because of material opulence a foolish person becomes dull-witted and mad. Thus he has no respect for anyone within the three worlds and defies even My authority. To such a person I show special favor by first taking away all his possessions.
Purport

A civilization that has become godless because of material advancement in opulence is extremely dangerous. Because of great opulence, a materialist becomes so proud that he has no regard for anyone and even refuses to accept the authority of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The result of such a mentality is certainly very dangerous. To show special favor, the Lord sometimes makes an example of someone like Bali Mahārāja, who was now bereft of all his possessions.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: O Brahmā! Intoxicated by wealth, a person becomes arrogant. Thus he has no respect for anyone within the three worlds, not even for me. To such a person I show special favor by taking away all his possessions. Viśaḥ means wealth. How can taking away wealth be mercy? By wealth a person becomes proud.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Material opulence makes one dull-witted and mad, defying even My authority. To such, I show special favor by taking all possessions first. The Lord's stripping is preventive medicine for the inflated.
Reflection Questions
  • What recent loss might actually be the Lord's preventive medicine before deeper inflation?
  • Where do I refuse this favor because I imagine I am exempt from opulence-madness?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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