930 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 22
TEXT 33
wifaratfirari vated I |
BIN saararaarata FeaaTy 112311
arthendriyarthabhidh yanam
sarvarthapahnavo nrnam
bhramsito jnana-vijnanad
yenavisati mukhyatam

artha—riches; indriya-artha— for the satisfaction of the senses;
abhidh yanam—constantly thinking of; sarva-artha—four kinds of achieve-
ments; apahnavah—destructive; nrnam—of human society; bhramsitah—
being devoid of; jnana—knowledge; vijnanat—devotional service; yena—
by all this; avisati—enters; mukh yatam—immovable life.

TRANSLATION

For human society, constantly thinking of how to earn money and
apply it for sense gratification brings about the destruction of everyone’s
interests. When one becomes devoid of knowledge and devotional service,
he enters into species of life like those of trees and stones.

PURPORT

Jiidna, or knowledge, means to understand one’s constitutional position,
and vijfidna refers to practical application of that knowledge in life. In the
human form of life, one should come to the position of jidna and vijfidna,
but despite this great opportunity if one does not develop knowledge and
practical application of knowledge through the help of a spiritual master
and the sdstras—in other words, if one misuses this opportunity—then in
the next life he is sure to be born in a species of nonmoving living entities.
Nonmoving living entities include hills, mountains, trees, plants, etc. This
stage of life is called punyatam or mukhyatam, namely, making all activi-
ties zero. Philosophers who support stopping all activities are called siinya-
vadi. By nature’s own way, our activities are to be gradually diverted to
devotional service. But there are philosophers who, instead of purifying
their activities, try to make everything zero, or void of all activities. This
lack of activity is represented by the trees and the hills. This is a kind of
punishment inflicted by the laws of nature. If we do not properly execute
our mission of life in self-realization, nature’s punishment will render us
inactive by putting us in the form of trees and hills. Therefore activities
directed towards sense gratification are condemned herein. One who is
