ब्रह्मन् यमनुगृह्णामि तद्विशो विधुनोम्यहम् ।
यन्मदः पुरुषः स्तब्धो लोकं मां चावमन्यते ॥२४॥
Å›rÄ«-bhagavÄn uvÄca
brahman yam anugá¹›hṇÄmi
tad-viśo vidhunomy aham
yan-madaḥ puruṣaḥ stabdho
lokaá¹ mÄá¹ cÄvamanyate
Å›rÄ«-bhagavÄn uvÄca - the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; brahman - O Lord BrahmÄ; yam - unto anyone to whom; anugá¹›hṇÄmi - I show My mercy; tat - his; viÅ›aḥ - material opulence or riches; vidhunomi - take away; aham - I; yat-madaḥ - having false prestige due to this money; puruá¹£aḥ - such a person; stabdhaḥ - being dull-minded; lokam - the three worlds; mÄm ca - unto Me also; avamanyate - derides.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Lord BrahmÄ, because of material opulence a foolish person becomes dull-witted and mad. Thus he has no respect for anyone within the three worlds and defies even My authority. To such a person I show special favor by first taking away all his possessions.
A civilization that has become godless because of material advancement in opulence is extremely dangerous. Because of great opulence, a materialist becomes so proud that he has no regard for anyone and even refuses to accept the authority of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The result of such a mentality is certainly very dangerous. To show special favor, the Lord sometimes makes an example of someone like Bali MahÄrÄja, who was now bereft of all his possessions.
