278 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 6, Ch. 5

To attain freedom from material life, one must take to Krsna
consciousness. Otherwise, if one very busily engages in the so-called ad-
vancement of science, what benefit will he derive? If one is carried away
by the waves of nature, what is the meaning of being a great scientist or
philosopher? Mundane science and philosophy are also material
creations. One must understand how maya works and how one can be
released from the tossing waves of the river of nescience. That is one’s
first duty.

TEXT 17
qaffafaaaat = gevisgaza: |
HAAAT TRAE HAMA 12911

parica-vimSati-tattvanam
puruso ‘dbhuta-darpanah

adhyatmam abudhasyeha
kim asat-karmabhir bhavet

paiica-virisati—twenty-five; tattvanam—of the elements: purusah
—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; adbhuta-darpanah—the
wonderful manifester; adhyatmam—the overseer of all causes and
effects; abudhasya—of one who does not know; iha—in this world; kim
asat-karmabhih bhavet—what can be the benefit of engaging in
temporary fruitive activities.

TRANSLATION

[Narada Muni had said that there is a house made of twenty-five
elements. The Haryaévas understood this analogy.] The Supreme
Lord is the reservoir of the twenty-five elements, and as the
Supreme Being, the conductor of cause and effect, He causes their
manifestation. If one engages in temporary fruitive activities, not
knowing that Supreme Person, what benefit will he derive?

PURPORT

Philosophers and scientists conduct scholarly research to find the
original cause, but they should do so scientifically, not whimsically or
