Devanagari
नात: परतरो लोके पुंस: स्वार्थव्यतिक्रम: ।
यदध्यन्यस्य प्रेयस्त्वमात्मन: स्वव्यतिक्रमात् ॥ ३२ ॥
Verse text
nātaḥ parataro loke
puṁsaḥ svārtha-vyatikramaḥ
yad-adhy anyasya preyastvam
ātmanaḥ sva-vyatikramāt
Synonyms
na
—
not
;
ataḥ
—
after this
;
parataraḥ
—
greater
;
loke
—
in this world
;
puṁsaḥ
—
of the living entities
;
sva
—
artha — interest
;
vyatikramaḥ
—
obstruction
;
yat
—
adhi — beyond that
;
anyasya
—
of others
;
preyastvam
—
to be more interesting
;
ātmanaḥ
—
for the self
;
sva
—
own
;
vyatikramāt
—
by obstruction .
Translation
There is no stronger obstruction to one’s self-interest than thinking other subject matters to be more pleasing than one’s self-realization.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Since there is nothing dearer than the ātmā, there is no greater harm to the self in this world than this destruction of knowledge occurring on its own.
Since there is nothing dearer than (adhi) the ātmā, there is no greater harm to oneself than the spontaneous destruction of the ātmā. Or where there is no power of reflection (adhīḥ), and other things become dear, there is no greater harm to oneself than the spontaneous destruction of the ātmā. There is no other cause than this destruction, as it appears on its own (sva). This means that the jīva’s association with ignorance is without beginning. It has been accomplished in the past spontaneously. Therefore devotion to the Paramātmā, the shelter of the jīva is suitable. For that purpose it is recommended to perform bhakti.
Purport
Human life is especially meant for self-realization. “Self” refers to the Superself and the individual self, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entity. When, however, one becomes more interested in the body and bodily sense gratification, he creates for himself obstructions on the path of self-realization. By the influence of
māyā,
one becomes more interested in sense gratification, which is prohibited in this world for those interested in self-realization. Instead of becoming interested in sense gratification, one should divert his activities to satisfy the senses of the Supreme Soul. Anything performed contrary to this principle is certainly against one’s self-interest.