In Europe and America we see, they are very much fond of ugra–karma, just like big, big factories, big, big bridges, wonderful. Long, long ago when the Britishers came here, they constructed big, big bridges, railway line. People thought, "It is wonderful." There is a song composed in Bihar. So when the Calcutta, the floating bridge made of wood, wooden bridge, floating bridge was constructed, connected Calcutta proper and Howrah, so there was big, wonderful song: ki apana banaylay sahat campani. There is song, ki apana banaylay sahat campani upara me ami cale, and…, just like that, niche me pani[?].

So this ugra-karma, formerly this ugra–karma was entrusted to the demons. Those who were in the sattva-guna, they do not like this ugra–karma. Sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. Rajas-tamo-bhavah [SB 1.2.19]. The… Those who are under the control of rajo–guna and tamo–guna, they are engaged in ugra–karma. Ugra–karma, industrial enterprise: big, big roads, big, big skyscraper. This is called ugra–karma. So ugra–karma is very pleasing to the ugra–jatis, just like Hiranyakasipu. What was the trouble between the father and the son? The father was for ugra–karma, and the son, Prahlada, was for sattvika life.

From Srila Prabhupada's lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.8 — February 15, 1976, Mayapur