FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.14.12

స యదా దుగ్ధపూర్వసుకృతస్తదా కారస్కరకాకతుణ్డాద్యపుణ్యద్రుమలతావిషోదపానవదుభయార్థశూన్యద్రవిణాన్జీవన్మృతాన్ స్వయం జీవన్మ్రియమాణ ఉపధావతి ॥ ౧౨ ॥
sa yadā dugdha-pūrva-sukṛtas tadā kāraskara-kākatuṇḍādy-apuṇya-druma-latā-viṣoda-pānavad ubhayārtha-śūnya-draviṇān jīvan-mṛtān svayaṁ jīvan-mriyamāṇa upadhāvati.
[sa yadaa dugdha-poorva-sukritas tadaa kaaraskara-kaakatundaady-apunya-druma-lataa-vishoda-paanavad ubhayaartha-shoonya-dravinaan jeevan-mritaan svayam jeevan-mriyamaana upadhaavati.]
saḥ — that conditioned soul yadā — when dugdha — exhausted pūrva — previous sukṛtaḥ — pious activities tadā — at that time kāraskara-kākatuṇḍa-ādi — named kāraskara, kākatuṇḍa, etc. apuṇya-druma-latā — impious trees and creepers viṣa-uda-pāna-vat — like wells with poisonous water ubhaya-artha-śūnya — which cannot give happiness either in this life or in the next draviṇān — those who possess wealth jīvat-mṛtān — who are dead, although apparently alive svayam — he himself jīvat — living mriyamāṇaḥ — being dead upadhāvati — approaches for material acquisition.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa yadā dugdha-pūrva-sukṛtas tadā kāraskara-kākatuṇḍādy-apuṇya-druma-latā-viṣoda-pānavad ubhayārtha-śūnya-draviṇān jīvan-mṛtān svayaṁ jīvan-mriyamāṇa upadhāvati.
saḥ
that conditioned soul
yadā
when
dugdha
exhausted
pūrva
previous
sukṛtaḥ
pious activities
tadā
at that time
kāraskara-kākatuṇḍa-ādi
named kāraskara, kākatuṇḍa, etc.
apuṇya-druma-latā
impious trees and creepers
viṣa-uda-pāna-vat
like wells with poisonous water
ubhaya-artha-śūnya
which cannot give happiness either in this life or in the next
draviṇān
those who possess wealth
jīvat-mṛtān
who are dead, although apparently alive
svayam
he himself
jīvat
living
mriyamāṇaḥ
being dead
upadhāvati
approaches for material acquisition.
Due to his pious activities in previous lives, the conditioned soul attains material facilities in this life, but when they are finished, he takes shelter of wealth and riches, which cannot help him in this life or the next. Because of this, he approaches the living dead who possess these things. Such people are compared to impure trees, creepers and poisonous wells.

The wealth and riches acquired through previous pious activities should not be misused for sense gratification. Enjoying them for sense gratification is like enjoying the fruits of a poisonous tree. Such activities will not help the conditioned soul in any way, neither in this life nor the next. However, if one engages his possessions in the service of the Lord under the guidance of a proper spiritual master, he will attain happiness both in this life and the next. Unless he does so, he eats a forbidden apple and thereby loses his paradise. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa therefore advises that one’s possessions should be given unto Him.

yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam

“O son of Kuntī, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.” ( Bg. 9.27 ) Material wealth and opulence attained through previous pious activities can be fully utilized for one’s benefit in this life and the next if one is Kṛṣṇa conscious. One should not try to possess more than he needs for the bare necessities. If one gets more than is needed, the surplus should be fully engaged in the Lord’s service. That will make the conditioned soul, the world and Kṛṣṇa happy, and this is the aim of life.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When his pious credits are exhausted, he approaches wealthy men, the living dead, without goals in this life and the next, who are like impious trees and creepers such as kāraskara or kākatuṇḍa, or like poisoned wells. This verse explains the impious trees mentioned in SB 5.13.5. The jīva has used up all his pious results by enjoyment. Kāraskara is a poisonous herb. Wealthy men, without goals in this life or the next, are like such trees and similar creepers, or poisonous wells.
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