154 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 14
said that everyone is a thief and is liable to be punished. Punishment by
the laws of nature takes place in the cycle of birth and death. No one dies
fully satisfied by the fulfillment of material desires, for that is not possi-
ble. Therefore at the time of one’s death one is very sorry, being unable
to fulfill his desires. By the laws of nature one is then offered another
body to fulfill his unsatisfied desires, and upon taking birth again, ac-
cepting another material body, one voluntarily accepts the threefold mis-
eries of life.
TEXT 9
MRA AAT TATA: |
MA TAIT TAA TATE FT US
mrgostra-khara-markakhu-
sarisrp khaga-maksikah
dtmanah putravat pasyet
tair esam antaram kiyat
mrga—deer; ustra—camels; khara—asses; marka—monkeys;
akhu—mice; sarisrp—snakes; khaga—birds; maksikah —flies;
Gtmanah—of one’s self; putra-vat—like the sons; pasyet—one should
see; taih—with those sons; esam—of these animals; antaram—dif-
ference; kiyat—how little.
TRANSLATION
One should treat animals such as deer, camels, asses, monkeys,
mice, snakes, birds and flies exactly like one’s own son. How little
difference there actually is between children and these innocent
animals.
PURPORT
One who is in Krsna consciousness understands that there is no dif-
ference between the animals and the innocent children in one’s home.
Even in ordinary life, it is our practical experience that a household dog
or cat is regarded on the same level as one’s children, without any envy.
Like children, the unintelligent animals are also sons of the Supreme
