SB 1.8.40 (1964)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 40
Ime janapada swriddhah supakkou oasadi virndhah Vana adri nadi udannwanto hi edhante taba bikshitaih.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Ime—all these, Janapada—cities and towns, Swriddha—greatly flourished, Supakka—mature, Ousadhi—herbs, Virudhah—vegetables, Vana—forest, Adri—hills, Nadi—rivers, Udanvanto—seas, Hi—certainly, Edhante—increasing, Taba-Your, Bikshitaih—seen.
TRANSLATION
All these cities and villages are flourishing in all respects because the herbs and grains are in mature abundance, the trees are full of fruits, the river is full of water the hills are full of minerals and the oceans are full of wealth. And they are all due to Your glance over them.
PURPORT
Human prosperity flourishes by natural gifts and not by gigantic industrial enterprises. The gigantic industrial enterprises are products of Godless civilisation and they are cause for destruction of noble aims of human life. The more we go on increasing such troublesome industries for squeezing out the vital energy of the human being, the more there will be unrest and dissatisfaction of the people in general although a few only can live lavishly on the exploitative means on other living beings. The natural gifts such as grains and vegetables, fruits, the rivers full with water, the hill full with jewels and minerals and the seas full of pearls and stones. Such natural products are supplied by the order of the Supreme and as He desires the material nature produces them in abundance or restricts them at times. The natural law is that human being may take advantage of these Godly gifts by nature and satisfactorily flourish on them without being captivated by the exploitative motive for lording it over the material nature. This is not possible and the more we attempt to exploit the material nature according to our whims of enjoyment the more we shall become entrapped by the reaction of such exploitative attempts. If we have sufficient grains, fruits, vegetables and herbs then what is the necessity of running on a slaughter house and kill the poor animals at the risk of being killed by them again and again. A man cannot kill an animal if he has sufficient grains and vegetables to eat. The flow of river waters fertilize the fields and there is production more than what we need. The minerals are produced in the hills and the jewels in the ocean. If the human civilization has sufficient grains, minerals, jewels, water, milk etc. then why should it hanker after terrible industrial enterprises at the cost of the labour of some unfortunate men. But all these natural gifts are dependant on the mercy of the Lord. What we need, therefore, to become is to be obedient to the laws of the Lord with an aim to achieve human perfection of life by devotional service. The indications by Kunti Devi is just on the point. She desires that God's mercy be bestowed upon them so that the natural prosperity be maintained by His Grace.