210 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 9
child, a physician and medicine cannot relieve a suffering patient,
and a boat on the ocean cannot protect a drowning man.
PURPORT

Through parental care, through remedies for different kinds of dis-
ease, and through means of protection on the water, in the air and on
land, there is always an endeavor for relief from various kinds of suffer-
ing in the material world, but none of them are guaranteed measures for
protection. They may be beneficial temporarily, but they afford no per-
manent benefit. Despite the presence of a father and mother, a child can-
not be protected from accidental death, disease and various other
miseries. No one can help, including the parents. Ultimately the shelter
is the Lord, and one who takes shelter of the Lord is protected. This is
guaranteed. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (9.31), kaunteya
pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati: ““O son of Kunti, declare it boldly
that My devotee never perishes.”’ Therefore, unless one is protected by
the mercy of the Lord, no remedial measure can act effectively. One
should consequently depend fully on the causeless mercy of the Lord. Al-
though as a matter of routine duty one must of course accept other
remedial measures, no one can protect one who is neglected by the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this material world, everyone is try-
ing to counteract the onslaught of material nature, but everyone is
ultimately fully controlled by material nature. Therefore even though
so-called philosophers and scientists try to surmount the onslaught of
material nature, they have not been able to do so. Krsna says in
Bhagavad-gita (13.9) that the real sufferings of the material world are
four—janma-mrtyu-jard-vyddhi (birth, death, old age and disease). In
the history of the world, no one has been successful in conquering these
miseries imposed by material nature. Prakrteh kriyamandani gunaih kar-
mani sarvasah. Nature (prakrti) is so strong that no one can overcome
her stringent laws. So-called scientists, philosophers, religionists and
politicians should therefore conclude that they cannot offer facilities to
the people in general. They should make vigorous propaganda to awaken
the populace and raise them to the platform of Krsna consciousness. Our
humble attempt to propagate the Krsna consciousness movement all over
the world is the only remedy that can bring about a peaceful and happy
life. We can never be happy without the mercy of the Supreme Lord
