FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.16.25

यानुपजुषाणानां न कदाचिदपि प्रजानां वलीपलितक्लमस्वेददौर्गन्ध्यजरामयमृत्युशीतोष्णवैवर्ण्योपसर्गादयस्तापविशेषा भवन्ति यावज्जीवं सुखं निरतिशयमेव ॥ २५ ॥
yān upajuṣāṇānāṁ na kadācid api prajānāṁ valī-palita-klama-sveda-daurgandhya-jarāmaya-mṛtyu-śītoṣṇa-vaivarṇyopasargādayas tāpa-viśeṣā bhavanti yāvaj jīvaṁ sukhaṁ niratiśayam eva.
[yaan upajushaanaanaam na kadaachid api prajaanaam valee-palita-klama-sveda-daurgandhya-jaraamaya-mrityu-sheetoshna-vaivarnyopasargaadayas taapa-visheshaa bhavanti yaavaj jeevam sukham niratishayam eva.]
yān — which (all the products produced because of the flowing rivers mentioned above) upajuṣāṇānām — of persons who are fully utilizing na — not kadācit — at any time api — certainly prajānām — of the citizens valī — wrinkles palita — grey hair klama — fatigue sveda — perspiration daurgandhya — bad odors because of unclean perspiration jarā — old age āmaya — disease mṛtyu — untimely death śīta — severe cold uṣṇa — scorching heat vaivarṇya — fading of the luster of the body upasarga — troubles ādayaḥ — and so on tāpa — of sufferings viśeṣāḥ — varieties bhavanti — are yāvat — as long as jīvam — life sukham — happiness niratiśayam — unlimited eva — only.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yān upajuṣāṇānāṁ na kadācid api prajānāṁ valī-palita-klama-sveda-daurgandhya-jarāmaya-mṛtyu-śītoṣṇa-vaivarṇyopasargādayas tāpa-viśeṣā bhavanti yāvaj jīvaṁ sukhaṁ niratiśayam eva.
yān
which (all the products produced because of the flowing rivers mentioned above)
upajuṣāṇānām
of persons who are fully utilizing
na
not
kadācit
at any time
api
certainly
prajānām
of the citizens
valī
wrinkles
palita
grey hair
klama
fatigue
sveda
perspiration
daurgandhya
bad odors because of unclean perspiration
jarā
old age
āmaya
disease
mṛtyu
untimely death
śīta
severe cold
uṣṇa
scorching heat
vaivarṇya
fading of the luster of the body
upasarga
troubles
ādayaḥ
and so on
tāpa
of sufferings
viśeṣāḥ
varieties
bhavanti
are
yāvat
as long as
jīvam
life
sukham
happiness
niratiśayam
unlimited
eva
only.
The residents of the material world who enjoy the products of these flowing rivers have no wrinkles on their bodies and no grey hair. They never feel fatigue, and perspiration does not give their bodies a bad odor. They are not afflicted by old age, disease or untimely death, they do not suffer from chilly cold or scorching heat, nor do their bodies lose their luster. They all live very happily, without anxieties, until death.

This verse hints at the perfection of human society even within this material world. The miserable conditions of this material world can be corrected by a sufficient supply of milk, yogurt, honey, ghee, molasses, food grains, ornaments, bedding, sitting places and so on. This is human civilization. Ample food grains can be produced through agricultural enterprises, and profuse supplies of milk, yogurt and ghee can be arranged through cow protection. Abundant honey can be obtained if the forests are protected. Unfortunately, in modern civilization, men are busy killing the cows that are the source of yogurt, milk and ghee, they are cutting down all the trees that supply honey, and they are opening factories to manufacture nuts, bolts, automobiles and wine instead of engaging in agriculture. How can the people be happy? They must suffer from all the misery of materialism. Their bodies become wrinkled and gradually deteriorate until they become almost like dwarves, and a bad odor emanates from their bodies because of unclean perspiration resulting from eating all kinds of nasty things. This is not human civilization. If people actually want happiness in this life and want to prepare for the best in the next life, they must adopt a Vedic civilization. In a Vedic civilization, there is a full supply of all the necessities mentioned above.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The residents of the material world who enjoy the products of these flowing rivers have no suffering such as wrinkles, grey hair, fatigue, foul smelling perspiration, old age, disease, untimely death, cold, heat, loss of luster, or troubles. They all live their whole life with unlimited happiness.
Residents who consume these higher products have no wrinkles, no grey hair, no fatigue, no untimely death. Quality of intake quietly shapes the body's whole experience. We are not victims of biology alone; we are choices made flesh.
Reflection Questions
  • What features of your current bodily and mental state are downstream of inputs you could shift?
  • What single intake change would, over a year, visibly transform your daily experience?
📝 My note

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