186 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 4
PURPORT
There have been many instances in which demons, after achieving
material opulences, have become extremely proud, so much so that they
have transgressed the laws and regulations given in the authoritative
Sastras. Hiranyakasipu acted in this way. As stated in Bhagavad-gita
(16.23):
yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya
vartate kama-karatah
na sa siddhim avapnoti
na sukham na pararh gatim
“He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own
whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme
destination.” The word sastra refers to that which controls our activities.
We cannot violate or transgress the laws and regulative principles men-
tioned in the sdstras. Bhagavad-gitd repeatedly confirms this.
tasmac chastrarn pramdnam te
karyakarya-vyavasthitau
Jfatva Sdstra-vidhanoktam
karma kartum iharhasi
“One should understand what is duty and what is not duty by the regula-
tions of the scriptures. Knowing such rules and regulations, one should
act so that he may gradually be elevated.” (Bg. 16.24) One should act
according to the direction of the sdstra, but the material energy is so
powerful that as soon as one becomes materially opulent, he begins to
transgress the sastric laws. As soon as one transgresses the laws of Sdstra,
he immediately enters upon the path of destruction.
TEXT 21
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