310 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 8
activities. These are the causes of all material tribulations. The great sage
Narada therefore advised that a devotee should act perfectly. Instead of
being envious of a more qualified man, one should be jolly to receive him.
Instead of being oppressive to a less qualified man, one should be compas-
sionate toward him just to raise him to the proper standard. And when one
meets an equal, instead of being proud of one’s own activities before him,
one should treat him as a friend. One should also have compassion for the
people in general, who are suffering due to forgetfulness of Krsna. These
important functions will make one happy within this material world.
TEXT 35
¥4 Sara
TS TA ATTA TAGAATTATY |
Ts HUN Gat TAaiseMaI A NI
dhruva uvaca
so ’yam samo bhagavata
sukha-duhkha-hatatmanaém
darsitah krpaya pumsam
durdarso ’smad-vidhais tu yah
dhruvah uvaca—Dhruva Maharaja said; sah—that; ayam—this; samah—
equilibrium of mind; bhagavata—by Your Lordship; sukha-duhkha—happi-
ness and miseries; hata-4tmanam—those who are affected; darsitah—shown;
krpaya—by mercy; purhsam—of the people; durdarsah—very difficult to
perceive; asmat-vidhaih—by persons like us; tu—but; yah—whatever you
have said.
TRANSLATION
Dhruva Maharaja said: My dear Lord Naradaji, for a person whose heart
is disturbed by the material conditions of happiness and distress, whatever
you have so kindly explained for attainment of peace of mind is certainly
a very good instruction. But as far as I am concerned, | am covered by
ignorance, and this kind of philosophy does not touch my heart.
PURPORT
There are various classes of men. One class is called akarmis, referring to
those who have no material desire. Desire must exist, either material or
