SB 1.5.18 (1962)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 18
Tasya eva heto prayateto kovido Na labhyate yad bhramatam uparyadha Tat labhyate dukhabad anyatah sukham Kalena sarvatra gabhira ramhasa
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Tasya—for that purpose, Eva—only, Heto—reason, Prayateta—should endeavour, Kovido—one who is philosophically inclined, Na—not, Labhyate—is not obtained, Yad—what, Bhramatam—wondering, Uparyadha—from top to toe, Tat—that, Labhyate—can be obtained, Dukhabad—like the miseries, Anyatah—as a result of previous work, Sukham—sense enjoyment, Kalena—in course of time, Sarvatra—everywhere, Gabhira—subtle, Ramhasa—progress,
TRANSLATION
Persons who are actually intelligent and philosophically inclined should endeavour only for that purposeful end which is not obtainable wandering even from the topmost planet (Brahmaloke) down to the lowest planet (Patala). So far happiness derived from sense enjoyment is concerned, it can be obtained automatically in course of time as we obtain progressively miseries even though we do not desire for them.
PURPORT
Every man everywhere is trying to obtain the greatest amount of sense enjoyment by various endeavoures. Some of them are busy engaged in trade, industry, economic development, political supremacy etc and some of them are engaged in the fruitive work for becoming happy in the next life by obtaining the different planets of greater happiness. It is said that in the Moon planet the inhabitants are fit for greater sense enjoyment by drinking Somarasa and the Pitriloka is obtained by good charitable work. So there are various programs of sense enjoyment either during this life or in the life after death. Some of them are trying to reach the moon planet or for the matter of that other planets also, during this life by some mechanical arrangement as they are very much anxious to get into such planets without any 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 might have performed. By good work only as they are prescribed in the scriptures one can obtain birth in a good family, can obtain opulence, can obtain good education, and can obtain good bodily features. As we see also even in this life that one obtains good education or good financial condition by good bodily endeavour. Similarily 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 not permanent. The position in the topmost Brahmaloka and that in the lowest Patala are also changeable according to our own work. The philosophically inclined intelligent person must, therefore, be not weltered away by such changeable position. He should try to get into the permanent life of bliss and knowledge without being enforced to come back again in the miserable material world either in this or that planet. Miseries and mixed happiness are two features of material life and they are obtained both in the Brahmaloka or in other lokas also. They are obtained in the life of the demigods as also in the life of the dogs and hogs. The miseries and mixed happiness of all such living beings are only of different degrees and quality but nobody is free from the miserics of birth, death, old age and diseases. Similarly everyone has his destined happiness also. Nobody can get more or less of these things simply by personal endeavours and even they are so obtained they are changeable again. One should not therefore, waste time for these flimsy things but one should only endeavour for going back to Godhead and that should be the mission of everyone's life.