SB 5.14.14

Srimad-Bhagavatam - Fifth Canto - Chapter 14: The Material World as the Great Forest of Enjoyment

SB 5.14.13 - SB 5.14.15

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT 14

yadā tu para-bādhayāndha

ātmane nopanamati tadā hi

pitṛ-putra-barhiṣmataḥ

pitṛ-putrān vā sa khalu bhakṣayati

SYNONYMS

yadā — when; tu — but (because of misfortune); para-bādhayā — in spite of exploiting all others; andhaḥ — blind; ātmane — for himself; na upanamati — does not fall into one's share; tadā — at that time; hi — certainly; pitṛ-putra — of the father or sons; barhiṣmataḥ — as insignificant as a piece of grass; pitṛ-putrān — father or sons; vā — or; saḥ — he (the conditioned soul); khalu — indeed; bhakṣayati — gives trouble to.

TRANSLATION

In this material world, when the conditioned soul cannot arrange for his own maintenance, despite exploiting others, he tries to exploit his own father or son, taking away that relative's possessions, although they may be very insignificant. If he cannot acquire things from his father, son or other relatives, he is prepared to give them all kinds of trouble.

PURPORT

Once we actually saw a distressed man steal ornaments from his daughter just to maintain himself. As the English proverb goes, necessity knows no law. When a conditioned soul needs something, he forgets his relationship with his relatives and exploits his own father or son. We also receive information from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that in this age of Kali the time is quickly approaching when a relative will kill another relative for a small farthing. Without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, people will deteriorate further and further into a hellish condition wherein they will perform abominable acts.

SB 5.14.13 - SB 5.14.15