Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.18.26
नैतद् वस्तुतया पश्येद् दृश्यमानं विनश्यति ।
असक्तचित्तो विरमेदिहामुत्र चिकीर्षितात् ॥ २६ ॥
naitad vastutayā paśyed
[naitad vastutayaa pashyed]
dṛśyamānaṁ vinaśyati
[drishyamaanam vinashyati]
asakta-citto viramed
[asakta-chitto viramed]
ihāmutra-cikīrṣitāt
[ihaamutra-chikeershitaat]
Word-for-word
na
—
never
etat
—
this
vastutayā
—
as ultimate reality
paśyet
—
one should see
dṛśyamānam
—
being observed by direct experience
vinaśyati
—
is destroyed
asakta
—
without attachment
cittaḥ
—
whose consciousness
viramet
—
one should be detached
iha
—
in this world
amutra
—
and in one’s future life
cikīrṣitāt
—
from activities performed for material advancement.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
naitad vastutayā paśyed
na
never
etat
this
vastutayā
as ultimate reality
paśyet
one should see
dṛśyamānaṁ vinaśyati
dṛśyamānam
being observed by direct experience
vinaśyati
is destroyed
asakta-citto viramed
asakta
without attachment
cittaḥ
whose consciousness
viramet
one should be detached
ihāmutra-cikīrṣitāt
iha
in this world
amutra
and in one’s future life
cikīrṣitāt
from activities performed for material advancement.
One should never see as ultimate reality those material things which obviously will perish. With consciousness free from material attachment, one should retire from all activities meant for material progress in this life and the next.
Purport
One may doubt how a gentleman can retire from family life and live as a beggar, eating meager foodstuffs. The Lord here responds by stating that sumptuous or palatable foods — along with all other material objects, such as the body itself — should never be seen as ultimate reality, since they are obviously perishable items. One should retire from material programs destined to enhance the quality of one’s illusion both in this life and the next.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
He should never see as ultimate reality those material things which will perish. With consciousness free from attachment to this world and the next, he should withdraw from all activities meant for material progress.
“How can one give up sweets and develop an inclination for coarse grains collected from the field?” One should not see things like food substantial, since they will be destroyed. Being unattached to this world and the next one should become disinterested in activities to attain those things.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Never treat as ultimate reality the things that perish; with consciousness free from attachment, retire from material progress in this life and the next. The teaching cuts off ambition cleanly.
Reflection Questions
- What 'progress' am I pursuing for the next life that I should also retire from?
- Where is my ambition still material under spiritual dress?
My note
Source: vedabase.io