TEXT 32
kim nas tapas cirnam adhoksajarcanam
purtesta-dattam uta bhuta-sauhrdam
yat samparetah punar eva balako
distya sva-bandhun pranayann upasthitah
SYNONYMS
kimwhat kind of; nahby us; tapahausterity; cirnamhas been done for a very long time; adhoksajaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead; arcanamworshiping; purtaconstructing public roads, etc.; istaactivities for public benefit; dattamgiving charity; utaor else; bhuta-sauhrdambecause of love for the general public; yatby the result of which; samparetaheven though the child was practically lost in death; punah evaeven again because of pious activities; balakahthe child; distyaby fortune; sva-bandhunall His relatives; pranayanto please; upasthitahis present here.
TRANSLATION
Nanda Maharaja and the others said: We must previously have performed austerities for a very long time, worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead, performed pious activities for public life, constructing public roads and wells, and also given charity, as a result of which this boy, although faced with death, has returned to give happiness to His relatives.
PURPORT
Nanda Maharaja confirmed that by pious activities one can become a sadhu so that one will be happy at home and ones children will be protected. In sastra there are many injunctions for karmis and jnanis, especially for karmis, by which they can become pious and happy even in material life. According to Vedic civilization, one should perform activities for the benefit of the public, such as constructing public roads, planting trees on both sides of the road so that people can walk in the shade, and constructing public wells so that everyone can take water without difficulty. One should perform austerity to control ones desires, and one must simultaneously worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus one becomes pious, and as a result one is happy even in material conditions of life.

Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/10/7/32

Previous: SB 10.7.31     Next: SB 10.7.33

If you Love Me Distribute My Books -- Srila Prabhupada