Text 101] The Residents of Varanasi Become Vaisnavas 351

SYNONYMS

dtma-dvasyam—the expansion of the energy of the Supreme Soul, the Per-
sonality of Godhead; idam—this; visvam—universe; yat—whatever; kificit—
something; jagatyam—within the universe; jagat—all that is animate or inani-
mate; tena—by Him; tyaktena—by things allotted to every person; bhujjitha—
you should accept for your mainteriance; mad—never; grdhah—encroach;
kasyasvit—someone else’s; dhanam—property.

TRANSLATION

“Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled
and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things for
himself that are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things,
knowing well to whom they belong.’

PURPORT

This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (8.1.10). Communists and socialists
are trying to propagate the philosophy that everything belongs to the mass of
people or to the state. Such an idea is not perfect. When this idea is expanded, we
can see that everything belongs to God. That will be the perfection of the com-
munistic idea. The purpose of Srimad-Bhagavatam is here very nicely explained.
Every one of us must be satisfied with those things the Supreme Personality of
Godhead has allotted us. We should not encroach upon the possessions of
others. This simple idea can be expanded in our daily lives. Everyone should have
a piece of land given by the government, and everyone should possess a few
cows. Both of these should be utilized for one’s daily bread. Above that, if some-
thing is manufactured in a factory, it should be considered the property of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead because the ingredients belong to the Supreme
Lord. Actually, there is no need to manufacture such things artificially, but if it is
done, one should consider that the goods produced belong to the Supreme Lord.
Spiritual communism recognizes the supreme proprietorship of the Supreme Lord.
As explained in Bhagavad-gita (5.29):

bhoktararn yajfia-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram

suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jAadtva mam santim rcchati

“The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities,
the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods and the benefactor and well-wisher
of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries.”

It is further explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam that no one should claim anything
as his property. Whatever property one claims to be his actually belongs to Krsna.
