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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 5, Ch. 18]
yaṁ loka-pālāḥ kila matsara-jvarā hitvā yatanto 'pi pṛthak sametya ca pātuṁ na śekur dvi-padaś catuṣ-padaḥ sarīsṛpaṁ sthāṇu yad atra dṛśyate
yam—whom (You); loka-pālāḥ—the great leaders of the universe, beginning with Lord Brahmā; kila—what to speak of others; matsara-jvarāḥ—who are suffering from the fever of envy; hitvā—leaving aside; yatantaḥ—endeavoring; api—although; pṛthak—separately; sametya—combined; ca—also; pātum—to protect; na—not; śekuḥ—able; dvi-padaḥ—two-legged; catuḥ-padaḥ—four-legged; sarīsṛpam—reptiles; sthāṇu—not moving; yat—whatever; atra—within this material world; dṛśyate—is visible.
TRANSLATION
My Lord, from the great leaders of the universe, such as Lord Brahmā and other demigods, down to the political leaders of this world, all are envious of Your authority. Without Your help, however, they could neither separately nor concertedly maintain the innumerable living entities within the universe. You are actually the only maintainer of all human beings, of animals like cows and asses, and of plants, reptiles, birds, mountains and whatever else is visible within this material world.
PURPORT
It is fashionable for materialistic persons to compete with the power of God. When so-called scientists try to manufacture living entities in their laboratories, their only purpose is to defy the talent and ability of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is called illusion. It exists even in the higher planetary systems, where great demigods like Lord Brahmā, Lord Siva and others reside. In this world everyone is puffed up with false prestige despite the failure of all his endeavors. When so-called philanthropists, who supposedly want to help the poor, are approached by members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, they say, “You are simply wasting your time, while I am feeding vast masses of starving people.” Unfortunately, their meager efforts, either singly or together, do not solve anyone’s problems.