श्रीभगवानुवाच ब्रह्मन्यमनुगृह्णामि तद्विशो विधुनोम्यहम् यन्मदः पुरुषः स्तब्धो लोकं मां चावमन्यते
śrī-bhagavān uvāca brahman yam anugṛhṇāmi tad-viśo vidhunomy aham yan-madaḥ puruṣaḥ stabdho lokaṁ māṁ cāvamanyate
Synonyms
śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; brahman—O Lord Brahmā; yam—unto anyone to whom; anugṛhṇāmi—I show My mercy; tat—his; viśaḥ—material opulence or riches; vidhunomi—take away; aham—I; yat-madaḥ—having false prestige due to this money; puruṣaḥ—such a person; stabdhaḥ—being dull-minded; lokam—the three worlds; mām ca—unto Me also; avamanyate—derides..
Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Lord Brahmā, 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.
Purport
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 Mahārāja, who was now bereft of all his possessions.