The nature is made so, whatever you do, for the time being you relish that "I have done something, I am now very comfortably situated," and so on, so on, but time will come, you will be kicked off from your position. You will be again thrown into the wilderness.

Thrown Into the Wilderness

Economic condition is not the aim of life

So here it is said, griha-vratanam. Griha-vrata means those who have taken this family life or material life as all in all. That's all. Vrata means vow. "I shall improve my family condition, I shall improve my social condition. I shall improve the international condition or political condition." All these things, they are called griha-vratanam. They have no idea that beyond this life there is another life. Therefore they are stuck up with this idea. They are called griha-vrata. Generally, at the present moment, everyone is griha-vrata. That's all. They simply want "How to improve my economic condition." That's all. Individually, socially, family wise, internationally or nationally, that is their aim. They are called griha-vrata. So Prahlada Maharaja said... because he knew that his father is number one griha-vrata, atheist number one, and materialist number one, so when his father inquired, "How you developed Krishna consciousness?" Prahlada said immediately, flatly, to his father, "My dear father, don't worry. You will never will have Krishna consciousness. [laughter] Because you are so much attached to this materialistic way of life, be sure you will never increase your devotion to Krishna. Be sure. Don't be agitated." Yes. Matir na krishne parato svato va mitho 'bhipadyeta griha-vratanam. "Those who have taken this vow, for them there is no possibility of increasing or culturing Krishna consciousness. There is no possibility."

These boys who have come to me, and they have become so nice devotee, because they are not griha-vrata. They have no interest with this material world. That is their first-class qualification. Therefore they have come to Krishna consciousness. If anyone wants to make his economic position developed by Krishna consciousness, don't do that. There is no possibility. Of course, Krishna is very kind. If anyone wants... Just like Dhruva Maharaja wanted to develop his economic condition. Krishna gave him. Krishna gives. He is very kind. But that is not the purpose of developing Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness should be pure, simply to serve the Lord.

anyabhilashita-shunyam
jñana-karmady-anavritam
anukulyena krishnanu-
shilanam bhaktir uttama [Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.1.11]

So Prahlada Maharaja first of all said, "My dear father, anyone whose vow is to live in this material world very comfortably, although there is no possibility of comfort..." This is called maya [illusion]. But they are trying to be comfortable. They are trying to be comfortable. Punah punash charvita-charvananam [Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.30]. They have seen that Roman Empire was lost, Greek Empire was lost, Mogul Empire was lost; still, they tried for British Empire, and it has failed. They are called punah punash charvita-charvananam [SB 7.5.30: "chewing the chewed"]. The things which have been thrown away after chewing, again chewing the same thing, that is called griha-vratanam. You cannot make any permanent settlement within this material world. That is not possible. The nature is made so, whatever you do, for the time being you relish that "I have done something, I am now very comfortably situated," and so on, so on, but time will come, you will be kicked off from your position. You will be again thrown into the wilderness. Therefore they do not know. That will be explained also. They do not know what is the aim of life. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi vishnum [SB 7.5.31]. They do not know. They are foolish. Their foolish leaders also misleading them.