310
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 4, Ch. 8]
activities. These are the causes of all material tribulations. The great sage Nārada therefore advised that a devotee should act perfectly. Instead of being envious of a more qualified man, one should be jolly to receive him. Instead of being oppressive to a less qualified man, one should be compassionate toward him just to raise him to the proper standard. And when one meets an equal, instead of being proud of one's own activities before him, one should treat him as a friend. One should also have compassion for the people in general, who are suffering due to forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa. These important functions will make one happy within this material world.
TEXT 35
शुव उवाच
सोऽयं शमो भगवता सुखदुःखहतात्मनाम् । दर्शितः कृपया पुंसां दुर्दर्शोऽस्मद्विधैस्तु यः ॥३५॥
dhruva uvāca   so 'yam śamo bhagavatā   sukha-duḥkha-hatātmanām   darśitaḥ kṛpayā puṁsāṁ   durdarśo 'smad-vidhais tu yaḥ
dhruvaḥ uvāca —Dhruva Mahārāja said;  saḥ —that;  ayam —this;  śamaḥ —equilibrium of mind;  bhagavatā —by Your Lordship;  sukha-duḥkha —happiness and miseries;  hata-ātmanām —those who are affected;  darśitaḥ —shown;  kṛpayā —by mercy;  puṁsām —of the people;  durdarśaḥ —very difficult to perceive;  asmat-vidhaiḥ —by persons like us;  tu —but;  yaḥ —whatever you have said.
TRANSLATION
Dhruva Mahārāja said: My dear Lord Nāradajī, for a person whose heart is disturbed by the material conditions of happiness and distress, whatever you have so kindly explained for attainment of peace of mind is certainly a very good instruction. But as far as I am concerned, I am covered by ignorance, and this kind of philosophy does not touch my heart.
PURPORT
There are various classes of men. One class is called  akarmīs , referring to those who have no material desire. Desire must exist, either material or