14 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 1

skyscraper is essentially a tall construction of bricks. Although the bricks
may be manufactured by man, the ingredients of the bricks are not. Of
course, man, as a manufacturer, may accept a salary from the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. That is stated here: tena tyaktena bhuijithah.
One may construct a big skyscraper, but neither the constructor, the
merchant nor the worker can claim proprietorship. Proprietorship
belongs to the person who has spent for the building. The Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead has manufactured water, earth, air, fire and the sky,
and one can use these and take a salary (tena tyaktena bhuijithah).
However, one cannot claim proprietorship. This is perfect communism.
Our tendency to construct great buildings should be used only for con-
structing large and valuable temples in which to install the Deity of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then our desire for construction will
be fulfilled.

Since all property belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
everything should be offered to the Lord, and we should take only
prasdda (tena tyaktena bhuijithah). We should not fight among our-
selves to take more than we need. As Narada said to Maharaja

Yudhisthira:

yavad bhriyeta jatharam
tavat svatvam hi dehinadm
adhikam yo *bhimanyeta
sa steno dandam arhati

“One may claim proprietorship to as much wealth as required to main-
tain body and soul together, but one who desires proprietorship over
more than that must be considered a thief, and he deserves to be
punished by the laws of nature.” (Bhag. 7.14.8) Of course, we need to
be maintained in eating, sleeping, mating and defending (ahara-nidra-
bhaya-maithuna), but since the Supreme Lord, the Personality of God-
head, has provided these necessities of life for the birds and bees, why
not for mankind? There is no need for economic development; every-
thing is provided. Therefore one should understand that everything
belongs to Krsna, and with this idea, one may take prasdda. However, if
one interferes with the allotments of others, he is a thief. We should not
accept more than what we actually need. Therefore, if by chance we get
