Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 36
The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings
क्वचित्क्षीणधन: शय्यासनाशनाद्युपभोगविहीनो यावदप्रतिलब्धमनोरथोपगतादानेऽवसितमतिस्ततस्ततोऽवमानादीनि जनादभिलभते ॥ ३६ ॥
kvacit kṣīṇa-dhanaḥ śayyāsanāśanādy-upabhoga-vihīno yāvad apratilabdha-manorathopagatādāne ’vasita-matis tatas tato ’vamānādīni janād abhilabhate.
Kung minsan, kapag naubusan ng pera, wala siyang sapat na matutuluyan—walang higaan, upuan, pagkain, at iba pang pangangailangan; minsan wala pa ngang mauupuan. Kapag hindi natutupad ang mga hangarin at hindi niya makuha ang kailangan sa makatarungang paraan, nagpapasya siyang agawin ang pag-aari ng iba nang di-makatarungan. Kapag hindi niya nakukuha ang nais niya, tumatanggap siya ng mga insulto at lalo siyang nalulumbay.
It is said that necessity knows no law. When the conditioned soul needs money to acquire life’s bare necessities, he adopts any means. He begs, borrows or steals. Instead of receiving these things, he is insulted and chastised. Unless one is very well organized, one cannot accumulate riches by unfair means. Even if one acquires riches by unfair means, he cannot avoid punishment and insult from the government or the general populace. There are many instances of important people’s embezzling money, getting caught and being put in prison. One may be able to avoid the punishment of prison, but one cannot avoid the punishment of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who works through the agency of material nature. This is described in Bhagavad-gītā (7.14) : daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā. Nature is very cruel. She does not excuse anyone. When people do not care for nature, they commit all kinds of sinful activities, and consequently they have to suffer.
FAQs
This verse explains that when wealth and comforts are lost, a person still clings to desires; failing to fulfill them, he turns to begging and repeatedly meets humiliation—showing how material longing breeds misery.
He is illustrating the ‘forest of material enjoyment,’ where the jīva wanders under karma—sometimes gaining comforts, and sometimes losing everything—so the listener develops detachment and seeks spiritual shelter.
Reduce dependence on status and luxury, practice contentment, and cultivate bhakti and inner discipline so that life’s reversals do not force one into degrading choices or mental despair.