dharmam—pious activitieseke—some peopleyaśaḥ—fameca—alsoanye—otherskāmam—sense gratificationsatyam—truthfulnessdamam—self-controlśamam—peacefulnessanye—othersvadanti—propoundsva-artham—pursuing one’s self-interestvai—certainlyaiśvaryam—opulence or political influencetyāga—renunciationbhojanam—consumptionkecit—some peopleyajñam—sacrificetapaḥ—austeritydānam—charityvratāni—taking vowsniyamān—regular religious dutiesyamān—strict regulative discipline.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
dharmam eke yaśaś cānye
dharmam
pious activities
eke
some people
yaśaḥ
fame
ca
also
anye
others
kāmaṁ satyaṁ damaṁ śamam
kāmam
sense gratification
satyam
truthfulness
damam
self-control
śamam
peacefulness
anye vadanti svārthaṁ vā
anye
others
vadanti
propound
sva-artham
pursuing one’s self-interest
vai
certainly
aiśvaryaṁ tyāga-bhojanam
aiśvaryam
opulence or political influence
tyāga
renunciation
bhojanam
consumption
kecid yajñaṁ tapo dānaṁ
kecit
some people
yajñam
sacrifice
tapaḥ
austerity
dānam
charity
vratāni niyamān yamān
vratāni
taking vows
niyamān
regular religious duties
yamān
strict regulative discipline.
Some say that people will be happy by performing pious religious activities. Others say that happiness is attained through fame, sense gratification, truthfulness, self-control, peace, self-interest, political influence, opulence, renunciation, consumption, sacrifice, penance, charity, vows, regulated duties or strict disciplinary regulation. Each process has its proponents.
Purport
Dharmam eke refers to those atheistic philosophers called karma-mīmāṁsakas, who state that one should not waste time worrying about a kingdom of God that no one has ever seen and from which no one has ever returned; rather, one should expertly utilize the laws of karma, performing fruitive activities in such a way that one will always be well situated. Concerning fame, it is said that as long as the fame of a human being is sung in the pious planets, he may live for thousands of years in material heaven. Kāmam refers to Vedic texts like the Kāma-sūtra as well as millions of modern books that advise one about sex pleasure. Some people state that the highest virtue in life is honesty; others say it is self-control, peace of mind and so on. Each viewpoint has proponents and “scriptures.” Others say that law, order and morality are the highest good, whereas still others propose political influence as the real self-interest of human beings. Some state that one should give away one’s material possessions to the needy; others state that one should try to enjoy this life as far as possible; and others recommend daily rituals, disciplinary vows, penances, and so on.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Various people claim various paths: karma-mīmāṁsa, fame, sense enjoyment, truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind, wealth for ones’s own use, renunciation, eating, sacrifice, penance, charity, vows, niyamas or yamas.
These whimsical paths are described. Dharma here means the path of karma-mīmāṁakas. They say:
mokṣārthī na pravarteta tatra kāmya-niṣiddhayoḥ |
nitya-naimittike kuryāt pratyavāya-jihāsayā ||
A person desiring liberation must not perform forbidden acts or kāmya-karmas. He should perform daily and periodic duties with a desire for giving up sin.
Fame means the fame sung in poetic works. It is said:
yāvat kīrtir manuṣyasya puṇya-lokeṣu gīyate |
tavad varṣa-sahasrāṇi svarga-loke mahīyate ||
A person will stay on Svarga for as many thousands of years as the years he is glorified on earth.
Kāma refers to the actions recommended by the author of Kāma-sūtras. Truthfulness, control of senses and control of the mind are recommended in scriptures advocating liberation. Others, proponents of practicality, who take support of morality and punishment (artha-śāstra), speak of wealth for one’s own use. For them the best process is sāma, dāna, bheda, and daṇḍa. The Lokayatas (followers of Cārvāka) recommend both renunciation and eating. The followers of the Vedas recommend sacrifice, niyama, yama, austerities and vows.
Personal Guidance
Various people locate happiness in religion, fame, gratification, truth, self-control, peace, politics, opulence, renunciation, sacrifice, austerity, charity, ritual, even celibacy — a dizzying list. Each is a candidate, none alone is the answer.
Reflection Questions
Which item on this list do I quietly bet on?
What if I treated it as one candidate among many rather than as the answer?