Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 11.23.18-19

steyam himsanrtam dambhah

kamah krodhah smayo madah

bhedo vairam avisvasah

samspardha vyasanani ca

ete pancadasanartha

hy artha-mula mata nrnam

tasmad anartham arthakhyam

sreyo-'rthi duratas tyajet

SYNONYMS

steyam -- theft; himsa -- violence; anrtam -- lying; dambhah -- duplicity; kamah -- lust; krodhah -- anger; smayah -- perplexity; madah -- pride; bhedah -- disagreement; vairam -- enmity; avisvasah -- lack of faith; samspardha -- rivalry; vyasanani -- the dangers (coming from women, gambling and intoxication); ca -- and; ete -- these; pancadasa -- fifteen; anarthah -- unwanted things; hi -- indeed; artha-mulah -- based on wealth; matah -- are known; nrnam -- by men; tasmat -- therefore; anartham -- that which is undesirable; artha-akhyam -- wealth, spoken of as if desirable; sreyah-arthi -- one who desires the ultimate benefit of life; duratah -- at a great distance; tyajet -- should leave.

TRANSLATION

Theft, violence, speaking lies, duplicity, lust, anger, perplexity, pride, quarreling, enmity, faithlessness, envy and the dangers caused by women, gambling and intoxication are the fifteen undesirable qualities that contaminate men because of greed for wealth. Although these qualities are undesirable, men falsely ascribe value to them. One desiring to achieve the real benefit of life should therefore remain aloof from undesirable material wealth.

PURPORT

The words anartham arthakhyam, or "undesirable wealth," indicate wealth that cannot be efficiently engaged in the loving service of the Lord. Such superfluous money or property will undoubtedly pollute a man with all of the above-mentioned qualities and therefore should be given up.

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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