In plain words
Some, even when such good fortune has come to them, as it is said, ‘Kṣīṇe puṇye martyalokaṃ viśanti’, the moment the fruit of their merit is spent, because they did no meritorious deeds worthy of that fruit, fall back to the place called downfall. When the fruit of merit comes to us, those who set about doing meritorious deeds have the chance to reach the highest state. Thinking, ‘This time has come, hasn't it?’, if a man neglects that time and enters an impure path again, not only does even the merit he has go, but there is all the more chance of his becoming lower still. This Śuka resolved to teach them a lesson. The very next moment, the whole city of Mithilā seemed to be burning. Then the other disciples, with ‘Alas! The city of Mithilā is burning! What will become of our parents in Mithilā? How our houses will burn to ashes! So we must go and save at least our things’, the boys ran, each with his own mat tucked under his arm. But Janaka, who had already reached the guru's side, was not shaken in the least. He did not move. Śuka said, ‘Janaka! The flames have spread to the palace too. Make the effort that is needed to save those who live in the palace,’ he said. Janaka did not agree in the least even to that; he smiled. Whatever way the will of God unfolds, that is the way it may go; there is no one who can stand in its way. Settling it within himself, ‘All is the will of Īśvara,’ he sat on, steady in citta. Meanwhile those envious disciples who had run off to the town, you see, came back: ‘Swami! The whole town looked as if it was burning, but when we went there was no fire at all. Janaka has stayed sitting right here. How steady in citta he is!’ those disciples set about telling the guru. Then Śuka said, ‘There is no use teaching for hours people as fickle in citta as you. If I find just one who is steady in citta, that is enough. For his sake I keep waiting. Have you seen his steadiness of citta, today at least?’ and so he taught the envious disciples good sense.