In plain words
Things not fit to hear of are all happening in this world. Near Amalāpuram, fire is welling up out of the ground. What is all this the result of? The result of this science. In the world, God created and set in place as much power as each thing should have. But man, for selfishness and self-interest, is drawing out the resources that should stay in the earth. The earth is a sphere. On one side they build reservoirs. On the other side they hollow it out. On one side it is hollow, on the other there is weight. Because of this the earth loses its balance. Whatever substances should be in the earth, in whatever measure, must stay in that measure. They are taking out these resources. They do not inquire what danger will come to the world. I want name and fame. So-and-so, the scientist, did this kind of work. He does it for the name, but does not look to the people. Here there must be oil. “Here there must be mineral wealth”: with that God created, and created well. They are taking it all out. Because of this, nature's upheavals are growing. Nature is going off its pitch. Nowhere are fitting prayers held that would calm it. Truly, whether you believe it or not, if you offer prayer to God from the heart, such things cannot happen at all. People, when such things happen: “Ayyō! This happened, that happened,” they lament; but can they not think of God, knowing how small a thing this is if there is God's grace! If you pray to God constantly, there is not one thing that will not come about through it. They will win in everything. Each substance must stay wherever it should be. Science must certainly develop. As far as it should go, so far and no further; it must not go beyond the limit. By going beyond the limit, nature is changing. We must pray that nature stays in its best state, with no change of any kind. There is just one thing you have to do. Whatever work you do, regard it as God's work and do it. Go to the office; do your work. Get married; come up in life as far as you need. I never tell you to give all this up. Only, do not go beyond the limit. When you go beyond the limit, the mind goes wrong to some extent.
There are some people. Whenever you look, it is marriage, marriage. They are crazy for marriage, poor things. Marry. If you want it, who will say no? But you must be careful, within measure. For three months after the wedding you say wife is life. After that, wife is knife. All these are mishaps that happen. They do not understand. We go on wanting many things for some petty, trifling pleasures. But if there is no liking, you must not force it. You must gain the strength to restrain yourselves. Truly, there is no telling how much grace lies in restraint. We must walk in good ways and show an example to all, children and elders.
You have now held a meeting and mean to serve in supplying water to Rāyalasīma. I have no wish for it. I do not like this limited service. We must work as long as there is life. We have come only to do karma. It is not that we are to do only this project. Go anywhere. Stay anywhere. Serve society. Wherever something is needed, go in there. You are on your way to the office. Someone is suffering. Take leave there that day and take him to hospital. That is the good that has to be done with tyāga. But you must not do what brings danger to yourself. You must learn the way to save others from danger without danger to yourself. That is why one must get out of it without hurting anyone and without getting hurt. Getting out of it does not mean we should use trickery. Doing work in life is very necessary. If there is no other work, do the work of your own home. Do not give Ahaṅkāra room, telling yourself you are an educated man. This very Ahaṅkāra brings man down so low. You are sitting on a chair in the veranda, reading. Your father is chopping firewood there. You see it with your eyes. This is not right Dharma. “Father is doing that work, and I am to sit like this? Chī!” With that, you must put the book down there. “Father! You sit down. I will split it”: with that, you must help him. How happy the father will be then! You cannot imagine how glad he is deep inside. Without giving joy to your parents, how can you receive joy? So, first of all, you must give joy to your parents. Then joy comes to you naturally. You must take part in this kind of service. That is true service. That is true Bhakti.
I say now and then: “Mother, father, guru, God.” They set the four in order. Could they not have set them as mother, guru, father, God? No, no. The experiences in our ancient tradition are very clear. They are full of meaning. They are exemplary. The one who carried you nine months, gave you birth and raised you is the mother. After you first recognise that mother, the mother herself shows you the father. “Bābū! There is your father”: so she shows him. So the one who shows the father is the mother. Whom does the father show? The father arranges a guru. The father shows the guru. The guru shows God. Prahlāda said this very thing. The father who bids you reach Hari: he is the father. Since each of them showed us the next, we must give them our gratitude.