784 Stimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 20
nation of fools and rascals and suédras cannot bring about peace and pros-
perity in this world. Therefore we find periodic upheavals in society in the
forms of battles, communal riots and fratricidal quarrels. Under these
circumstances, not only are the leaders unable to lead the people towards
liberation, but they cannot even give them peace of mind. In Bhagavad-
gita it is stated that anyone who lives on concocted ideas, without refer-
ence to the sastras, never becomes successful and does not attain happiness
or liberation after death.
TEXT 16
e
a Wad aq WAIT
mia ase queiteataa: |
° vr
ae Waa | Berea
art a aera Vardt 124
varam ca mat kaficana manavendra
urnisva te “ham guna-sila-yantritah
naham makhair vai sulabhas tapobhir
yogena va yat sama-citta-varti
varam—benediction; ca—also; mat—from Me; kaficana—whatever you
like; mdnava-indra—O chief of human beings; urnisva—please request; te—
your; aham—I; guna-sila—by elevated qualities and excellent behavior;
yantritah—being captivated; na—not; aham—1; makhaih—by sacrifices; vai—
certainly; su-labhah—easily obtained; tapobhih—by austerities; yogena—
by practice of mystic yoga; vaé—or; yat— because of which; sama-citta—in
one who is equipoised; varti— being situated.
TRANSLATION
My dear King, I am very captivated by your elevated qualities and

excellent behavior, and thus I am very favorably inclined towards you. You
may therefore ask from Me any benediction you like. One who does not
possess elevated qualities and behavior cannot possibly achieve My favor
simply by performance of sacrifices, severe austerities, or mystic yoga. I
always remain equipoised in the heart of one who is also equipoised in all
circumstances.
