174
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 8, Ch. 22]
self-realization. But the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, the Lord of the universe, can see everything by His will. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.
PURPORT
The words  ko vicaṣte gatim ātmano yathā  indicate that when one is puffed up by the false prestige of possessing material opulence, he certainly neglects the goal of self-realization. This is the position of the modern world. Because of so-called scientific improvements in material opulence, people have entirely given up the path of self-realization. Practically no one is interested in God, one's relationship with God or how one should act. Modern men have altogether forgotten such questions because they are mad for material possessions. If this kind of civilization continues, the time will soon come when the Supreme Personality of Godhead will take away all the material opulences. Then people will come to their senses.
TEXT 18
श्रीशुक उवाच
तस्यानुशृण्वतो राजन् प्रह्लादस्य कृताञ्जलेः । हिरण्यगर्भो भगवानुवाच मधुम्बदनम् ॥१८॥
śrī-śuka uvāca tasyānuśṛṇvato rājan prahrādasya kṛtāñjaleḥ hiraṇyagarbho bhagavān uvāca madhusūdanam
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tasya—of Prahlāda Mahārāja; anuśṛṇvataḥ—so that he could hear; rājan—O King Parikṣit; prahrādasya—of Prahlāda Mahārāja; kṛta-añjaleḥ—who was standing with folded hands; hiraṇyagarbhaḥ—Lord Brahmā; bhagavān—the most powerful; uvāca—said; madhusūdanam—unto Madhusūdana, the Personality of Godhead.