Chapter 2 · Verse 43

Transcendental Knowledge

कामात्मानः स्वर्गपरा जन्मकर्मफलप्रदाम्। क्रियाविशेषबहुलां भोगैश्वर्यगतिं प्रति
kāmātmānaḥ svarga-parā janma-karma-phala-pradām kriyā-viśeṣa-bahulāṁ bhogaiśvarya-gatiṁ prati

Word Meanings

kāmaātmānaḥ — desirous of sense gratification; svarga-parāḥ — aiming to achieve heavenly planets; janma-karma-phala-pradām — resulting in fruitive action, good birth, etc.; kriyā-viśeṣa — pompous ceremonies; bahulām — various; bhoga — sense enjoyment; aiśvarya — opulence; gatim — progress; prati — towards.

Translation

Those who are full of desires and regard heaven as the highest goal prescribe various elaborate rituals that yield rebirth as the fruit of action, all directed toward the attainment of pleasure and power.