Text 26] Bali Maharaja Surrenders His Life 183

purusah prakrti-stho hi
bhunkte prakrtyan gunan

kdranam guna-sango ‘sya
sad-asad-yoni-janmasu

“The living entity in material nature follows the ways of life, enjoying
the three modes of nature. This is due to his association with that ma-
terial nature. Thus he meets with good and evil amongst various
species.” (Bg. 13.22) After thus rotating through many, many forms of
life in the cycle of birth and death, the living being gets a chance for a
human form. Therefore every human being, especially one belonging to
a civilized nation or culture, must be extremely responsible in his ac-
tivities. He should not risk degradation in the next life. Because the body
will change (tathé dehdntara-praptir), we should be extremely careful.
To see to the proper use of life is the purpose of Krsna consciousness.
The foolish living entity declares freedom from all control, but factually
he is not free; he is fully under the control of material nature. He must
therefore be most careful and responsible in the activities of his life.

TEXT 26
THEATRE TATTTT: |
TIA A AI TAATY ATA? URE

Janma-karma-vayo-riipa-
vidyaisvarya-dhandadibhih
yady asya na bhavet stambhas
tatraéyarn mad-anugrahah

Janma—by birth in an aristocratic family; karma—by wonderful ac-
tivities, pious activities, vayah—by age, especially youth, when one is
capable of doing many things; rijpa—by personal beauty, which attracts
everyone; vidyé—by education; aisvarya—by opulence; dhana—by
wealth; G@dibhih—by other opulences also; yadi—if; asya—of the
possessor; na—not; bhavet—there is; stambhah—pride; tatra—in such
a condition; ayam—a person; mat-anugrahah—should be considered to
have received My special mercy.
