FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.3

सुखमैन्द्रियकं दैत्या देहयोगेन देहिनाम् । सर्वत्र लभ्यते दैवाद्यथा दु:खमयत्नत: ॥ ३ ॥
sukham aindriyakaṁ daityā
[sukham aindriyakam daityaa]
deha-yogena dehinām
[deha-yogena dehinaam]
sarvatra labhyate daivād
[sarvatra labhyate daivaad]
yathā duḥkham ayatnataḥ
[yathaa duhkham ayatnatah]
Word-for-word
sukham — happiness aindriyakam — with reference to the material senses daityāḥ — O my dear friends born in demoniac families deha-yogena — because of possessing a particular type of material body dehinām — of all embodied living entities sarvatra — everywhere (in any form of life) labhyate — is obtainable daivāt — by a superior arrangement yathā — just as duḥkham — unhappiness ayatnataḥ — without endeavor.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sukham aindriyakaṁ daityā
sukham
happiness
aindriyakam
with reference to the material senses
daityāḥ
O my dear friends born in demoniac families
deha-yogena dehinām
deha-yogena
because of possessing a particular type of material body
dehinām
of all embodied living entities
sarvatra labhyate daivād
sarvatra
everywhere (in any form of life)
labhyate
is obtainable
daivāt
by a superior arrangement
yathā duḥkham ayatnataḥ
yathā
just as
duḥkham
unhappiness
ayatnataḥ
without endeavor.
Prahlāda Mahārāja continued: My dear friends born of demoniac families, the happiness perceived with reference to the sense objects by contact with the body can be obtained in any form of life, according to one’s past fruitive activities. Such happiness is automatically obtained without endeavor, just as we obtain distress.
Purport

In the material world, in any form of life, there is some so-called happiness and so-called distress. No one invites distress in order to suffer, but still it comes. Similarly, even if we do not endeavor to obtain the advantages of material happiness, we shall obtain them automatically. This happiness and distress are obtainable in any form of life, without endeavor. Thus there is no need to waste time and energy fighting against distress or working very hard for happiness. Our only business in the human form of life should be to revive our relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus become qualified to return home, back to Godhead. Material happiness and distress come as soon as we accept a material body, regardless of what form. We cannot avoid such happiness and distress under any circumstances. The best use of human life, therefore, lies in reviving our relationship with the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Dear demons! Just as all beings attain distress without endeavor, they attain happiness of the senses in all species just by connection with a body. Having attained a human form one should not endeavor for material happiness. Happiness and distress are the qualities of the body. Thus by attaining a body one attains both of these. Sarvatra means “in animal and other bodies.”
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Material happiness, like material distress, comes automatically according to past karma — in any form of life. No need to chase it; no need to fight it. Free up the energy you have been spending on both and direct it toward Kṛṣṇa-consciousness.
Reflection Questions
  • How much of your effort goes into chasing happiness or escaping distress that would arrive on its own anyway?
  • What could you do with that energy if you stopped?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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