Srimad Bhagavatam 8.22.24-25

[makarand]

TEXT 24

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

brahman yam anugṛhṇāmi

tad-viśo vidhunomy aham

yan-madaḥ puruṣaḥ stabdho

lokaṁ māṁ cāvamanyate

SYNONYMS

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.

TRANSLATION

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.

TEXT 25

yadā kadācij jīvātmā

saṁsaran nija-karmabhiḥ

nānā-yoniṣv anīśo ’yaṁ

pauruṣīṁ gatim āvrajet

SYNONYMS

yadā—when; kadācit—sometimes; jīva-ātmā—the living entity; saṁsaran—rotating in the cycle of birth and death; nija-karmabhiḥ—because of his own fruitive activities; nānā-yoniṣu—in different species of life; anīśaḥ—not independent (completely under the control of material nature); ayam—this living entity; pauruṣīm gatim—the situation of being human; āvrajet—wants to obtain.

TRANSLATION

While rotating in the cycle of birth and death again and again in different species because of his own fruitive activities, the dependent living entity, by good fortune, may happen to become a human being. This human birth is very rarely obtained.