TEXT 24
muktas tato yadi bandhad devadatta upacchinatti tasmad api visnumitra ity anavasthitih.
SYNONYMS
muktahliberated; tatahfrom that; yadiif; bandhatfrom the government imprisonment or being beaten by the protector of the woman; deva-dattahperson named Devadatta; upacchinattitakes the money from him; tasmatfrom the person named Devadatta; apiagain; visnu-mitraha person named Visnumitra; itithus; anavasthitihthe riches do not stay in one place but pass from one hand to another.
TRANSLATION
Stealing or cheating another person out of his money, the conditioned soul somehow or other keeps it in his possession and escapes punishment. Then another man, named Devadatta, cheats him and takes the money away. Similarly, another man, named Visnumitra, steals the money from Devadatta and takes it away. In any case, the money does not stay in one place. It passes from one hand to another. Ultimately no one can enjoy the money, and it remains the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
PURPORT
Riches come from Laksmi, the goddess of fortune, and the goddess of fortune is the property of Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The goddess of fortune cannot stay anywhere but by the side of Narayana; therefore another of her names is Cancala, restless. She cannot be peaceful unless she is in the company of her husband, Narayana. For example, Laksmi was carried away by the materialistic Ravana. Ravana kidnapped Sita, the goddess of fortune belonging to Lord Rama. As a result, Ravanas entire family, opulence and kingdom were smashed, and Sita, the goddess of fortune, was recovered from his clutches and reunited with Lord Rama. Thus all property, riches and wealth belong to Krsna. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (5.29):
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the true beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, and He is the supreme proprietor of all the planetary systems.
Foolish materialistic people collect money and steal from other thieves. but they cannot keep it. In any case, it must be spent. One person cheats another, and another person cheats someone else; therefore the best way to possess Laksmi is to keep her by the side of Narayana. This is the point of the Krsna consciousness movement. We worship Laksmi (Radharani) along with Narayana (Krsna). We collect money from various sources, but that money does not belong to anyone but Radha and Krsna (Laksmi-Narayana). If money is utilized in the service of Laksmi-Narayana, the devotee automatically lives in an opulent way. However, if one wants to enjoy Laksmi the way Ravana did, he will be vanquished by the laws of nature, and whatever few possessions he has will be taken away. Finally death will take everything away, and death is the representative of Krsna.
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