Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 11.19.18

karmanam parinamitvad

a-virincyad amangalam

vipascin nasvaram pasyed

adrstam api drsta-vat

SYNONYMS

karmanam -- of material activities; parinamitvat -- because of being subject to transformation; a -- up to; virincyat -- the planet of Lord Brahma; amangalam -- inauspicious unhappiness; vipascit -- an intelligent person; nasvaram -- as temporary; pasyet -- should see; adrstam -- that which he has not yet experienced; api -- indeed; drsta-vat -- just like that already experienced.

TRANSLATION

An intelligent person should see that any material activity is subject to constant transformation and that even on the planet of Lord Brahma there is thus simply unhappiness. Indeed, a wise man can understand that just as all that he has seen is temporary, similarly, all things within the universe have a beginning and an end.

PURPORT

The word adrstam indicates the heavenly standard of life available in the higher planets within this universe. Such celestial neighborhoods are not actually experienced on the earth planet, although they are described in the Vedic literatures. One may argue that promotion to material heaven is recommended in the karma-kanda portion of the Vedas and that although the happiness available there is not eternal, at least for some time one may enjoy life. Lord Krsna here states, however, that even on the planet of Lord Brahma, which is superior to the heavenly planets, there is no happiness whatsoever. Even in the upper planetary systems there is rivalry, envy, irritation, lamentation and ultimately death itself.

<<< >>>

Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari