Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 3 Chapter 30:1-16

Book 3: Chapter 30

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 30: Verses 1-16
Downfall of men attached to their body, house etc.

Lord Kapila continued : Just as a mass of clouds knows not the inordinate strength of the mighty wind-god, though driven (here and there) by the latter, so this Jiva surely does not know the enormous power of the omnipotent Kala though being subjected to repeated births and deaths (by the latter). The almighty Time-Spirit destroys each and every object the Jiva acquires with great pains for the sake of happiness, and for whose loss he grieves much. That is because the stupid creature foolishly regards as everlasting the house, lands and wealth etc., belonging to one's transient body and those connected with it (viz., one's wife, son and so on, who are equally perishable). The Jiva in this world finds delight in whatever species of life he is born into, and never feels aversion for it. Deluded by the Lord's Maya, the Jiva feels little inclined to cast off his body even in hell, taking delight in the infernal enjoyments. With his heart deeply attached to body, wife, progeny, house, animals, wealth and relations, he deems himself blessed. Burning all over with anxiety to maintain them all, the evil-minded fool incessantly commits sins. Nay, with his mind and senses captivated by the charms wrought on him in the private chamber by lewd women, as well as by the talks of lisping infants, the householder remains attached to his home life, which is mainly full of trouble and the duties of which involve the practice of wiles; and if, while scrupulously performing these duties, he succeeds in averting calamity, he deems himself happy as it were. Through moneys procured from here and there by practising great violence, he maintains those people (the members of his family) by fostering whom he goes down to perdition, himself enjoying only what is left after nourishing them. When he finds his business hampered, though renewed again and again, he loses patience and, over whelmed with greed, longs for others' wealth. His efforts coming to nought through bad luck, he becomes moneyless and is no longer able to maintain his family. Nay, puzzled in mind, he is reduced to a wretched plight, and full of anxiety, heaves deep sighs. Seeing him unable to support them as aforesaid, his wife and others treat him not with the same respect as before, even as the miserly cultivators do not accord the same treatment to their old and worn-out oxen. Yet he feels no aversion for them. Maintained by those whom he had (once) brought up himself and deformed on account of old age, he falls a prey to diseases like dyspepsia; his diet and activity both diminish and he remains confined to his house, awaiting his death and living like a dog on whatever is thrown despisingly (by his sons and wife). (At the approach of death) his eye-balls are shot out by the action of the life-breath trying to find an exit; his wind-pipe gets choked with phlegm, coughing and breathing cause him exertion and death-rattle is heard from his throat.

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