FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.15

वित्तेषु नित्याभिनिविष्टचेता विद्वांश्च दोषं परवित्तहर्तु: । प्रेत्येह वाथाप्यजितेन्द्रियस्त- दशान्तकामो हरते कुटुम्बी ॥ १५ ॥
vitteṣu nityābhiniviṣṭa-cetā
[vitteshu nityaabhinivishta-chetaa]
vidvāṁś ca doṣaṁ para-vitta-hartuḥ
[vidvaamsh cha dosham para-vitta-hartuh]
pretyeha vāthāpy ajitendriyas tad
[pretyeha vaathaapy ajitendriyas tad]
aśānta-kāmo harate kuṭumbī
[ashaanta-kaamo harate kutumbee]
Word-for-word
vitteṣu — in material wealth nitya-abhiniviṣṭa-cetāḥ — whose mind is always absorbed vidvān — having learned ca — also doṣam — the fault para-vitta-hartuḥ — of one who steals the money of others by cheating or by transactions on the black market pretya — after dying iha — in this material world vā — or athāpi — still ajita-indriyaḥ — because of being unable to control the senses tat — that aśānta-kāmaḥ — whose desires are unsatiated harate — steals kuṭumbī — too fond of his family.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vitteṣu nityābhiniviṣṭa-cetā
vitteṣu
in material wealth
nitya-abhiniviṣṭa-cetāḥ
whose mind is always absorbed
vidvān
having learned
vidvāṁś ca doṣaṁ para-vitta-hartuḥ
ca
also
doṣam
the fault
para-vitta-hartuḥ
of one who steals the money of others by cheating or by transactions on the black market
pretyeha vāthāpy ajitendriyas tad
pretya
after dying
iha
in this material world
vā
or
athāpi
still
ajita-indriyaḥ
because of being unable to control the senses
tat
that
aśānta-kāmo harate kuṭumbī
aśānta-kāmaḥ
whose desires are unsatiated
harate
steals
kuṭumbī
too fond of his family.
If a person too attached to the duties of family maintenance is unable to control his senses, the core of his heart is immersed in how to accumulate money. Although he knows that one who takes the wealth of others will be punished by the law of the government, and by the laws of Yamarāja after death, he continues cheating others to acquire money.
Purport

Especially in these days, people do not believe in a next life or in the court of Yamarāja and the various punishments of the sinful. But at least one should know that one who cheats others to acquire money will be punished by the laws of the government. Nonetheless, people do not care about the laws of this life or those governing the next. Despite whatever knowledge one has, one cannot stop his sinful activities if he is unable to control his senses.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Since he is constantly absorbed in money, is attached to his family, and has unfulfilled desires, unable to control his senses, he steals, though he knows it is wrong to steal other’s money, since there are consequences now and after death. Though he knows that after dying he will experience hell and in this life get punishment from the king, he still steals money.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Knowing the laws of government and Yamarāja, the sense-bound person still cheats to acquire money. Knowledge alone cannot stop sinful action when senses are uncontrolled. Without restraint, more information is not more virtue.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do you keep doing what you know is wrong because sense-control has not caught up to knowledge?
  • What practice could close that gap, even slightly?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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