SB 1.2.9–10
नार्थस्य धर्मैकान्तस्य कामो लाभाय हि स्मृतः ॥ ९ ॥
कामस्य नेन्द्रियप्रीतिर्लाभो जीवेत यावता ।
जीवस्य तत्त्वजिज्ञासा नार्थो यश्चेह कर्मभिः ॥ १० ॥
nārthasya dharmaikāntasya kāmo lābhāya hi smṛtaḥ
kāmasya nendriya-prītir lābho jīveta yāvatā
jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā nārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥ
Synonyms
arthaḥ — material prosperity; na hi upakalpate — is certainly not fit [yogyo na bhavati34]; arthāya — for the purpose [to be the intended aim (phalatvāya)]; dharmasya — of dharma; āpavargyasya — the ultimate intent of which is liberation [(apavarga-paryantasya); where the word apavarga means “bhakti,” according to SB 5.19.19–20 (pañcama-skandha-gadyānusāreṇa apavargo bhaktiḥ)35]; kāmaḥ — the appropriation of sense objects [viṣaya-bhogaḥ]; na hi lābhāya — is assuredly not meant to be the aim [phalatvāya]; arthasya — of prosperity; dharma-eka-antasya — [which has] dharma alone as its concomitant or inevitable end [(dharma eva anusaṁhitaṁ phalam);36 or which is the unfailing attendant of such dharma (dharmāvyabhicāriṇaḥ)]; smṛtaḥ — so it is attested to [by the realized sages (munibhiḥ)]; indriya-prītiḥ — sensual pleasure; na — is not; lābhaḥ — the aim [phalam]; kāmasya — of the willful appropriation of sense objects; [which is serviceable (sevyate)]; yāvatā — only as much as required [tāvān eva]; jīveta — [for] life sustenance [jīvana-paryanta eva]; jīvasya — [the purpose] of life [jīvanasya phalam37]; tattva-jijñāsā — [is] inquiry into the Absolute Truth; ca — and; na — not [to procure]; yaḥ — that; arthaḥ — benefit [of heaven (svargaḥ), renowned (prasiddhaḥ)]; iha — here, in this world; karmabhiḥ — by execution of one’s prescribed duties.
Translation
Dharma, the intent of which is liberation (āpavargya), is certainly not meant for material prosperity (artha). Prosperity, which has dharma alone as its inevitable end, is assuredly not meant for the appropriation of sense objects (kāma); so it has been attested to [by those who have realized the Truth]. The willful appropriation of sense objects is not meant for sensual pleasure (indriya-prīti) but only for requisite life sustenance. The purpose of life is to inquire into the Absolute Truth and not to procure the benefit (artha) [of heaven, renowned] in this world by carrying out one’s prescribed duties.