SB 9.19.14 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

न जातु काम: कामानामुपभोगेन शाम्यति । हविषा कृष्णवर्त्मेव भूय एवाभिवर्धते ॥ १४ ॥

Verse text

na jātu kāmaḥ kāmānām upabhogena śāṁyati haviṣā kṛṣṇa-vartmeva bhūya evābhivardhate

Synonyms

na — not ; jātu — at any time ; kāmaḥ — lusty desires ; kāmānām — of persons who are very lusty ; upabhogena — by enjoyment of lusty desires ; śāṁyati — can be pacified ; haviṣā — by supplying butter ; kṛṣṇa — vartmā — fire ; iva — like ; bhūyaḥ — again and again ; eva — indeed ; abhivardhate — increases more and more .

Translation

As supplying butter to a fire does not diminish the fire but instead increases it more and more, the endeavor to stop lusty desires by continual enjoyment can never be successful. [In fact, one must voluntarily cease from material desires.]

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

As fire increases more and more by supplying oblations, lust can never be pacified by enjoyment. “Whatever amount of lust you have, let it be satisfied by additional enjoyment! For you with great wealth, all the objects of enjoyment like women, garlands and sandalwood are small things.” Kṛṣṇa-vartmā means fire. Unsatisfied desire means constant sorrow. Satisfied desire alone is happiness.

Purport

One may have enough money and enough resources to satisfy the senses but still not be satisfied, for the endeavor to stop lusty desires by enjoying can never be successful. The example given here is very appropriate. One cannot stop a blazing fire by trying to extinguish it with butter.