FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.15.21

पण्डिता बहवो राजन्बहुज्ञा: संशयच्छिद: । सदसस्पतयोऽप्येके असन्तोषात्पतन्त्यध: ॥ २१ ॥
paṇḍitā bahavo rājan
[panditaa bahavo raajan]
bahu-jñāḥ saṁśaya-cchidaḥ
[bahu-jnaah samshaya-chchidah]
sadasas patayo ’py eke
[sadasas patayo ’py eke]
asantoṣāt patanty adhaḥ
[asantoshaat patanty adhah]
paṇḍitāḥ — very learned scholars bahavaḥ — many rājan — O King (Yudhiṣṭhira) bahu-jñāḥ — persons with varied experience saṁśaya-cchidaḥ — expert in legal advice sadasaḥ patayaḥ — persons eligible to become presidents of learned assemblies api — even eke — by one disqualification asantoṣāt — simply by dissatisfaction or greed patanti — fall down adhaḥ — into hellish conditions of life.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
paṇḍitā bahavo rājan
paṇḍitāḥ
very learned scholars
bahavaḥ
many
rājan
O King (Yudhiṣṭhira)
bahu-jñāḥ saṁśaya-cchidaḥ
bahu-jñāḥ
persons with varied experience
saṁśaya-cchidaḥ
expert in legal advice
sadasas patayo ’py eke
sadasaḥ patayaḥ
persons eligible to become presidents of learned assemblies
api
even
eke
by one disqualification
asantoṣāt patanty adhaḥ
asantoṣāt
simply by dissatisfaction or greed
patanti
fall down
adhaḥ
into hellish conditions of life.
O King Yudhiṣṭhira, many persons with varied experience, many legal advisers, many learned scholars and many persons eligible to become presidents of learned assemblies fall down into hellish life because of not being satisfied with their positions.

For spiritual advancement, one should be materially satisfied, for if one is not materially satisfied, his greed for material development will result in the frustration of his spiritual advancement. There are two things that nullify all good qualities. One is poverty. Daridra-doṣo guṇa-rāśi-nāśī. If one is poverty-stricken, all his good qualities become null and void. Similarly, if one becomes too greedy, his good qualifications are lost. Therefore the adjustment is that one should not be poverty-stricken, but one must try to be fully satisfied with the bare necessities of life and not be greedy. For a devotee to be satisfied with the bare necessities is therefore the best advice for spiritual advancement. Learned authorities in devotional life consequently advise that one not endeavor to increase the number of temples and maṭhas. Such activities can be undertaken only by devotees experienced in propagating the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. All the ācāryas in South India, especially Śrī Rāmānujācārya, constructed many big temples, and in North India all the Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana constructed large temples. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura also constructed large centers, known as Gauḍīya Maṭhas. Therefore temple construction is not bad, provided proper care is taken for the propagation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Even if such endeavors are considered greedy, the greed is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, and therefore these are spiritual activities.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O King! Many learned persons with great knowledge, many legal advisers, and many leaders of assemblies fall down into hellish life because of not being satisfied. The uselessness of good qualities in the presence of strong greed is shown.
Experienced advisers, legal experts, scholars, and presidents of assemblies fall into hellish life because they are not satisfied with their positions. Position without satisfaction is a slow descent. Honor the role you have; stop scheming for the next one.
Reflection Questions
  • What position do you currently hold that you have never let yourself appreciate?
  • Where is restless ambition for the next role actually robbing the one in front of you?
📝 My note

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