FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.5.18

తస్యైవ హేతో: ప్రయతేత కోవిదో న లభ్యతే యద్భ్రమతాముపర్యధ: । తల్లభ్యతే దు:ఖవదన్యత: సుఖం కాలేన సర్వత్ర గభీరరంహసా ॥ ౧౮ ॥
tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido
[tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido]
na labhyate yad bhramatām upary adhaḥ
[na labhyate yad bhramataam upary adhah]
tal labhyate duḥkhavad anyataḥ sukhaṁ
[tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham]
kālena sarvatra gabhīra-raṁhasā
[kaalena sarvatra gabheera-ramhasaa]
tasya — for that purpose eva — only hetoḥ — reason prayateta — should endeavor kovidaḥ — one who is philosophically inclined na labhyate — is not obtained yat — what bhramatām — wandering upari adhaḥ — from top to bottom tat — that labhyate — can be obtained duḥkhavat — like the miseries anyataḥ — as a result of previous work sukham — sense enjoyment kālena — in course of time sarvatra — everywhere gabhīra — subtle raṁhasā — progress.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido
tasya
for that purpose
eva
only
hetoḥ
reason
prayateta
should endeavor
kovidaḥ
one who is philosophically inclined
na labhyate yad bhramatām upary adhaḥ
na labhyate
is not obtained
yat
what
bhramatām
wandering
upari adhaḥ
from top to bottom
tal labhyate duḥkhavad anyataḥ sukhaṁ
tat
that
labhyate
can be obtained
duḥkhavat
like the miseries
anyataḥ
as a result of previous work
sukham
sense enjoyment
kālena sarvatra gabhīra-raṁhasā
kālena
in course of time
sarvatra
everywhere
gabhīra
subtle
raṁhasā
progress.
Persons who are actually intelligent and philosophically inclined should endeavor only for that purposeful end which is not obtainable even by wandering from the topmost planet [Brahmaloka] down to the lowest planet [Pātāla]. As far as happiness derived from sense enjoyment is concerned, it can be obtained automatically in course of time, just as in course of time we obtain miseries even though we do not desire them.

Every man everywhere is trying to obtain the greatest amount of sense enjoyment by various endeavors. Some men are busy engaged in trade, industry, economic development, political supremacy, etc., and some of them are engaged in fruitive work to become happy in the next life by attaining higher planets. It is said that on the moon the inhabitants are fit for greater sense enjoyment by drinking soma-rasa, and the Pitṛloka is obtained by good charitable work. So there are various programs for sense enjoyment, either during this life or in the life after death. Some are trying to reach the moon or other planets by some mechanical arrangement, for they are very anxious to get into such planets without doing good work. But it is not to happen. By the law of the Supreme, different places are meant for different grades of living beings according to the work they have performed. By good work only, as prescribed in the scriptures, can one obtain birth in a good family, opulence, good education and good bodily features. We see also that even in this life one obtains a good education or money by good work. Similarly, in our next birth we get such desirable positions only by good work. Otherwise, it would not so happen that two persons born in the same place at the same time are seen differently placed according to previous work. But all such material positions are impermanent. The positions in the topmost Brahmaloka and in the lowest Pātāla are also changeable according to our own work. The philosophically inclined person must not be tempted by such changeable positions. He should try to get into the permanent life of bliss and knowledge where he will not be forced to come back again to the miserable material world, either in this or that planet. Miseries and mixed happiness are two features of material life, and they are obtained in Brahmaloka and in other lokas also. They are obtained in the life of the demigods and also in the life of the dogs and hogs. The miseries and mixed happiness of all living beings are only of different degree and quality, but no one is free from the miseries of birth, death, old age and disease. Similarly, everyone has his destined happiness also. No one can get more or less of these things simply by personal endeavors. Even if they are obtained, they can be lost again. One should not, therefore, waste time with these flimsy things; one should only endeavor to go back to Godhead. That should be the mission of everyone’s life.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The wise man strives for that happiness which is not attained by jīvas wandering from Brahma-loka to the lowest species. Material happiness is attained in all cases without endeavor, by the law of karma, just like distress, through the force of fast moving time.
Commentary

“But the śrutis say karmaṇā pitṛ-loka: by karma one goes to Pitṛ-loka (Bṛhad Āraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.5); and apām somam amṛtā abhūma: we drank soma and became immortal. (Ṛg Veda 8.48.3) These encourage people to seek happiness of Svarga in the next life. The mercantile people encourage others to seek happiness in this life. How can one promote bhakti for people by rejecting one’s dharma and consequently the happiness in this and next life?

True, but the wise are not deluded by this at all. That is expressed in this verse. A person with discrimination (kovidaḥ) should endeavor for that cause which is not attained by the jīvas wandering up to Brahma-loka or down to non-moving bodies. But there material happiness is attained without endeavor (anyataḥ), due to ancient karmas, even being born as pigs or being born in hell, just as distress is also attained without endeavor (duḥkhavat). It is said:

aprārthitāni duḥkhāni yathaivāyānti dehinām | sukhāny api tathā manye dainyam atrātiricyate ||

Just as one does not pray for misery, and it nevertheless comes to all creatures, in the same way happiness predominates over suffering.

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