15.270
ayuh sriyam yaso dharmam
lokan asisa eva ca
hanti sreyamsi sarvani
pumso mahad-atikramah
SYNONYMS
ayuh—duration of life; sriyam—opulence; yasah—reputation; dharmam—religion; lokan—possessions; asisah—benedictions; eva—certainly; ca—and; hanti—destroys; sreyamsi—good fortune; sarvani—all; pumsah—of a person; mahat—of great souls; atikramah—violation " ’When a person mistreats great souls, his life span, opulence, reputation, religion, possessions and good fortune are all destroyed.’
PURPORT
This is a statement made by Sukadeva Gosvami, who was relating Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.4.46) to Maharaja Pariksit.
This quotation concerns the attempted killing of Krsna’s sister (Yogamaya), who appeared before Krsna’s birth as the daughter of mother Yasoda.
This daughter Yogamaya and Krsna were born simultaneously, and Vasudeva replaced Krsna by taking Yogamaya away.
When she was brought to Mathura and Kamsa attempted to kill her, Yogamaya slipped out of his hands.
She could not be killed.
She then informed Kamsa about the birth of his enemy, Krsna, and being thus baffled, Kamsa consulted his associates, who were all demons.
When this big conspiracy was taking place, this verse was spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami.
He points out that a demon can lose everything because of his nefarious activities.
The word mahad-atikramah, meaning “envy of Lord Visnu and His devotees,” is significant in this verse.
The word mahat indicates a great personality, a devotee or the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.
Being always engaged in the Lord’s service, the devotees themselves are as great as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The word mahat is also explained in Bhagavad-gita (9.13):
mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakrtim asritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam “O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature.
They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.” Being envious of the Lord and His devotees is not at all auspicious for a demon.
By such envy, a demon loses everything considered beneficial.