Question: Where in sastra does it say we became envious of God, and He created this material world for the living entities to enjoy here on earth?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
There are quite a few places in the scriptures we find either the Lord or the devotees of the Lord mentioning the purpose of this material creation.
Please find some of them below:
- SB 4.28.53
“The brāhmaṇa continued: My dear friend, even though you cannot immediately recognize Me, can’t you remember that in the past you had a very intimate friend? Unfortunately, you gave up My company and accepted a position as enjoyer of this material world.”
- SB 4.28.54
“My dear gentle friend, both you and I are exactly like two swans. We live together in the same heart, which is just like the Mānasa Lake. Although we have been living together for many thousands of years, we are still far away from our original home.”
In the purport to SB 4.28.53, Srila Prabhupada quotes another scriptural reference from Prema-vivarta, which is as follows: said:
kṛṣṇa-bahirmukha hañā bhoga-vāñchā kare
nikaṭa-stha māyā tāre jāpaṭiyā dhare
“The natural position of the living entity is to serve the Lord in a transcendental loving attitude. When the living entity wants to become Kṛṣṇa Himself or imitate Kṛṣṇa, he falls down into the material world. Since Kṛṣṇa is the supreme father, His affection for the living entity is eternal. When the living entity falls down into the material world, the Supreme Lord, through His svāṁśa expansion (Paramātmā), keeps company with the living entity. In this way the living entity may someday return home, back to Godhead.”
BG 7.27
Icchā-dveṣa-samutthena
dvandva-mohena bhārata
sarva-bhūtāni sammohaṁ
sarge yānti paran-tapa
“O scion of Bharata, O conqueror of the foe, all living entities are born into delusion, bewildered by dualities arisen from desire and hate.”
SB 3.21.20
“My dear Lord, although it is not Your desire, You manifest this creation of gross and subtle elements just for our sensual satisfaction. Let Your causeless mercy be upon us, for You have appeared before us in Your eternal form, adorned with a splendid wreath of tulasī leaves.”
The above are a few references mainly from Srimad Bhagavatam. Please also do read Srila Prabhupada’s purports to these above quoted verses which further explains and expands on the meaning of these verses in a very simple yet profound way.
