Text 10
nūnaṁ hy āryāḥ sādhava upaśama-śīlāḥ kṛpaṇa-suhṛda evaṁ-vidhārthe svārthān api gurutarān upekṣante.
nūnam—en verdad; hi—ciertamente; āryāḥ—las personas de civilización avanzada; sādhavaḥ—personas santas;upaśama-śīlāḥ—aunque estén en la orden de vida de renuncia completa; kṛpaṇa-suhṛdaḥ—los amigos de los desamparados; evaṁ-vidha-arthe—para poner en práctica esos principios; sva-arthān api—incluso sus propios intereses personales; guru-tarān—muy importantes; upekṣante—pasan por alto.
En verdad, una persona avanzada, aunque se encuentre en la orden de vida de renuncia, siente compasión por las entidades vivientes que sufren. Ciertamente, esa persona debe pasar por alto sus propios intereses, por muy importantes que sean, para proteger a quien busca refugio en él.
Māyā is very strong. In the name of philanthropy, altruism and communism, people are feeling compassion for suffering humanity throughout the world. Philanthropists and altruists do not realize that it is impossible to improve people’s material conditions. Material conditions are already established by the superior administration according to one’s karma. They cannot be changed. The only benefit we can render to suffering beings is to try to raise them to spiritual consciousness. Material comforts cannot be increased or decreased. It is therefore said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.18), tal labhyate duḥkhavad anyataḥ sukham: “As far as material happiness is concerned, that comes without effort, just as tribulations come without effort.” Material happiness and pain can be attained without endeavor. One should not bother for material activities. If one is at all sympathetic or able to do good to others, he should endeavor to raise people to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In this way everyone advances spiritually by the grace of the Lord. For our instruction, Bharata Mahārāja acted in such a way. We should be very careful not to be misled by so-called welfare activities conducted in bodily terms. One should not give up his interest in attaining the favor of Lord Viṣṇu at any cost. Generally people do not know this, or they forget it. Consequently they sacrifice their original interest, the attainment of Viṣṇu’s favor, and engage in philanthropic activities for bodily comfort.