202 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 18

yam loka-palah kila matsara-jvara
hitva yatanto ‘pi prthak sametya ca

patum na sekur dvi-padas catus-padah
sarisrpam sthanu yad atra drsyate

yam—whom (You); loka-palah—the great leaders of the universe,
beginning with Lord Brahma; kila—what to speak of others; matsara-
jvarah—who are suffering from the fever of envy; hAitva—leaving
aside; yatantah—endeavoring; api—although; prthak—separately;
sametya—combined; ca—also; patum—to protect; na—not; sekuh—
able; dvi-padah—two-legged; catuh-padah—four-legged; sarisrpam—
reptiles; sthanu—not moving; yat—whatever; atra—within this
material world; drsyate—is visible.

TRANSLATION

My Lord, from the great leaders of the universe, such as Lord
Brahma and other demigods, down to the political leaders of this
world, all are envious of Your authority. Without Your help,
however, they could neither separately nor concertedly maintain
the innumerable living entities within the universe. You are ac-
tually the only maintainer of all human beings, of animals like
cows and asses, and of plants, reptiles, birds, mountains and
whatever else is visible within this material world.

PURPORT

It is fashionable for materialistic persons to compete with the power of
God. When so-called scientists try to manufacture living entities in their
laboratories, their only purpose is to defy the talent and ability of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is called illusion. It exists even in
the higher planetary systems, where great demigods like Lord Brahma,
Lord Siva and others reside. In this world everyone is puffed up with
false prestige despite the failure of all his endeavors. When so-called
philanthropists, who supposedly want to help the poor, are approached
by members of the Krsna consciousness movement, they say, “You are
simply wasting your time, while I am feeding vast masses of starving
people.” Unfortunately, their meager efforts, either singly or together,
do not solve anyone’s problems.
