SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM - Prabhupada

Text 15]HiraJ;lyaka8ipu, King of the Demons77TEXT 15ifiM«ctPtf.ffilt: qsnl(•fl(l-l 1311oqfftf-ifiM(WfiUIt: I '(OII;:il' 51;ri reJlC!: II IIkecit khanitrair bibhidut£setu-prakara-gopuriinajivyams cicchidur vrankecit para.Su-par:rayat£pradahan sarany ekeprajanam jvalitolmukait£kecit-some of the demons; khanitrait£-with digging instruments;bibhidut£-broke to pieces; setu-bridges; priikiira-protective walls;gopuran-city gates; ajiryan-the source of livelihood; cicchidut£-cutdown; vran-trees; kecit-some; para.Su-par:rayat£-taking axes inhand; pradahan-burned down; sarani-the dwellings; eke-otherdemons; prajaniim-of the citizens; jvalita-blazing; ulmukait£-withfirebrands.TRANSLATIONSome of the demons took digging instruments and broke downthe bridges, the protective walls and the gates (gopuras] of thecities. Some took axes and began cutting the important trees thatproduced mango, jackfruit and other sources of food. Some of thedemons took firebrands and set fire to the residential quarters ofthe citizens.PURPORTThe cutting of trees is generally prohibited. In particular, trees thatproduce nice fruit 'for the maintenance of human society should not becut. In different countries there are different types of fruit trees. InIndia the mango and jackfruit trees are prominent, and in other placesthere are mango trees, jackfruit trees, coconut trees and berry trees. Anytree that produces nice fruit for the maintenance of the people should notbe cut at all. This is a slistric injunction.