FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.21.23

फलश्रुतिरियं नृणां न श्रेयो रोचनं परम् । श्रेयोविवक्षया प्रोक्तं यथा भैषज्यरोचनम् ॥ २३ ॥
phala-śrutir iyaṁ nṝṇāṁ
[phala-shrutir iyam nreenaam]
na śreyo rocanaṁ param
[na shreyo rochanam param]
śreyo-vivakṣayā proktaṁ
[shreyo-vivakshayaa proktam]
yathā bhaiṣajya-rocanam
[yathaa bhaishajya-rochanam]
phala-śrutiḥ — the statements of scripture promising rewards iyam — these nṝṇām — for men na — are not śreyaḥ — the highest good rocanam — enticement param — merely śreyaḥ — the ultimate good vivakṣayā — with the idea of saying proktam — spoken yathā — just as bhaiṣajya — for taking medicine rocanam — inducement.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
phala-śrutir iyaṁ nṝṇāṁ
phala-śrutiḥ
the statements of scripture promising rewards
iyam
these
nṝṇām
for men
na śreyo rocanaṁ param
na
are not
śreyaḥ
the highest good
rocanam
enticement
param
merely
śreyo-vivakṣayā proktaṁ
śreyaḥ
the ultimate good
vivakṣayā
with the idea of saying
proktam
spoken
yathā bhaiṣajya-rocanam
yathā
just as
bhaiṣajya
for taking medicine
rocanam
inducement.
Those statements of scripture promising fruitive rewards do not prescribe the ultimate good for men but are merely enticements for executing beneficial religious duties, like promises of candy spoken to induce a child to take beneficial medicine.

In the previous verse Lord Kṛṣṇa stated that persons absorbed in sense gratification certainly deviate from the real purpose of human life. But since the Vedas themselves promise heavenly sense gratification as the result of sacrifice and austerity, how can such promotion to heaven be considered a deviation from the goal of life? The Lord here explains that the fruitive rewards offered in religious scriptures are merely inducements, like candy that is used to induce a child to take medicine. It is actually the medicine that is beneficial, and not the candy. Similarly, in fruitive sacrifices it is the worship of Lord Viṣṇu that is beneficial, not the fruitive reward itself. According to Bhagavad-gītā, those professing fruitive rewards to be the ultimate goal of religious scripture are certainly less intelligent fools inimical to the purpose of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord desires that all conditioned souls be purified and come back home, back to Godhead, for an eternal life of bliss and knowledge. One who opposes the Lord’s purpose in the name of religiosity is certainly bewildered about the purpose of life.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The rewards promised in scripture are not the ultimate benefit for man but are merely enticements for liberating him. They are like promises of candy spoken to induce a child to take beneficial medicine. “How can one deviate from one’s interest by hearing results like Svarga in the Vedas?” The results described in the scriptures for performing karmas are not beneficial for man. Nārada says: śreyas tvaṁ katamad rājan karmaṇātmana īhase duḥkha-hāniḥ sukhāvāptiḥ śreyas tan neha ceṣyate O King! What benefit do you want for yourself by doing these karmas? It is not possible to destroy suffering and attain happiness by performance of karma.
Scriptures' promises of fruitive rewards are not the ultimate good — they are like candy spoken to make a child take medicine. The candy is real; the medicine is the point.
Reflection Questions
  • Which 'candy' in scripture have I treated as the medicine?
  • What is the medicine I should actually be taking?
📝 My note

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