Parīkṣit Mahārāja addressed Śukadeva Goswāmī as mahā-bhāga, the most fortunate. Because he's perfect Vaiṣṇava, therefore he addresses, "My dear the most fortunate," mahā-bhāga. Adhunā, "Now," yathaiva narakān naraḥ, "These people are suffering in the hellish condition of life. How they can be rescued?" Nānā ugra-yātanān: very severe punishment they are undergoing. People cannot see. They have no eyes to see, you see. They suffer in great calamities, and still they cannot see that, "I am suffering."
Just like when you pass through the streets of Australia—we go daily, morning walk—big, big skyscraper buildings have been constructed, and people are making plans, designs, working very, very hard, lifting so many heavy things. These are very heavy tasks, but they are thinking, "It is very happiness." (laughter) They are thinking, "We are making progress. We are making progress. We are bringing stones and irons on head and putting together, and it is progress. We are very happy." (laughter) This is going on.
This is called bahir-artha-māninaḥ (SB 7.5.31). They are enamored by the external energy of the Personality of Godhead. These material things are products of the external energy of the Lord. Bhūmir āpo 'nalo vayuḥ khaṁ buddhir mano eva (BG 7.4). Bhūmi, the earth—the iron, stone, wood, they are nothing but transformation of earth. Similarly, vapo, water. So whatever we are manufacturing here, they are simply combination of earth, water, air, fire, that's all.