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Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta
TRANSLATION
Everyone was engaged in material enjoyment, whether sinfully or virtuously. No one was interested in the transcendental service of the Lord, which can give total relief from the repetition of birth and death.
PURPORT
Advaita Ācārya saw the entire world to be engaged in activities of material piety and impiety, without a trace of devotional service or Kṛṣṇa consciousness anywhere. The fact is that in this material world there is no scarcity of anything except Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Material necessities are supplied by the mercy of the Supreme Lord. We sometimes feel scarcity because of our mismanagement, but the real problem is that people are out of touch with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Everyone is engaged in material sense gratification, but people have no plan for making an ultimate solution to their real problems, namely, birth, disease, old age and death. These four material miseries are called  bhava-roga , or material diseases. They can be cured only by Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the greatest benediction for human society.
TEXT 98
লোকগতি দেখি’ আচার্য করুণ-হৃদয় । বিচার করেন, লোকের কৈছে হিত হয় ॥ ৯৮ ॥
loka-gati dekhi’ ācārya karuṇa-hṛdaya vicāra karena, lokera kaiche hita haya
SYNONYMS
loka-gati —the course of the world;  dekhi —seeing;  ācārya —Advaita Ācārya;  karuṇa-hṛdaya —compassionate heart;  vicāra karena —considers;  lokera —of the world;  kaiche —how;  hita —welfare;  haya —there is.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the activities of the world, the Ācārya felt compassion and began to ponder how he could act for the people’s benefit.
PURPORT
This sort of serious interest in the welfare of the public makes one a bona fide  ācārya . An  ācārya  does not exploit his followers. Since the  ācārya  is a confidential servitor of the Lord, his heart is always full of compassion for humanity in its suffering. He knows that all suffering is due to the absence of devotional service to the Lord, and therefore he always tries to find ways to change people’s activities, making them favorable for the attainment of devotion. That is the qualification of