900 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 22
avape—got; etasmin—in this material existence; patitanam—those who are
fallen; sva-karmabhih—by their own ability.
TRANSLATION

Prthu Maharaja inquired from the sages about persons entangled in this
dangerous material existence because of their previous actions; could
such persons, whose only aim is sense gratification, be blessed with any
good fortune?

PURPORT

Maharaja Prthu did not ask the Kumaras about their good fortune, for
the Kumaras are always auspicious by dint of their life in celibacy. Since
they are always engaged on the path of liberation, there was no question
of ill fortune. In other words, brahmanas and Vaisnavas who are strictly
following the path of spiritual advancement are always fortunate. The
question was asked by Prthu Maharaja for his own sake, since he was in
the position of a grhastha and in charge of the royal authority. Kings are
not only grhasthas, who are generally absorbed in sense gratification, but
are sometimes employed to kill animals in hunting because they have to
practice the killing art, otherwise it is very difficult for them to fight
their enemies. Such things are not auspicious. Four kinds of sinful
activities—associating with woman for illicit sex, eating meat, intoxication
and gambling—are allowed for the ksatriyas. For political reasons, some-
times they have to take to these sinful activities. Ksatriyas do not refrain
from gambling. One vivid example is the Pandavas. When the Pandavas
were challenged by the opposite party, Duryodhana, to gamble and
risk their kingdom, they could not refrain, and by that gambling they
lost their kingdom, and their wife was insulted. Similarly, the ksatriyas
cannot refrain from fighting if challenged by the opposite party. There-
fore Prthu Maharaja, taking consideration of all these facts, inquired
whether there is any auspicious path. Grhastha life is inauspicious
because grhastha means consciousness for sense gratification, and as soon
as there is sense gratification, one’s position is always full of dangers.
This material world is said to be padam padam yad vipadam na tesam,
dangerous in every step (Bhag. 10.14.58). Everyone in this material world
is struggling hard for sense gratification. Clearing all these points, Maharaja
Prthu inquired from the four Kumaras about the fallen conditioned souls
who are rotting in this material world due to their past bad or inauspicious
activities. Is there any possibility for their auspicious spiritual life? In this
verse, the word indriyarthartha-vedinam is very significant. It indicates
