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TEXT 16
lokah svayam sreyasi nasta-drstir
yo rthan samiheta nikama-kamah
anyonya-vairah sukha-lesa-hetor
ananta-duhkham ca na veda mudhah
SYNONYMS
lokahpeople; svayampersonally; sreyasiof the path of auspiciousness; nasta-drstihwho have lost sight; yahwho; arthanthings meant for sense gratification; samihetadesire; nikama-kamahhaving too many lusty desires for sense enjoyment; anyonya-vairahbeing envious of one another; sukha-lesa-hetohsimply for temporary material happiness; ananta-duhkhamunlimited sufferings; caalso; nado not; vedaknow; mudhahfoolish.
TRANSLATION
Due to ignorance, the materialistic person does not know anything about his real self-interest, the auspicious path in life. He is simply bound to material enjoyment by lusty desires, and all his plans are made for this purpose. For temporary sense gratification, such a person creates a society of envy, and due to this mentality, he plunges into the ocean of suffering. Such a foolish person does not even know about this.
PURPORT
The word nasta-drstih, meaning one who has no eyes to see the future, is very significant in this verse. Life goes on from one body to another, and the activities performed in this life are enjoyed or suffered in the next life, if not later in this life. One who is unintelligent, who has no eyes to see the future, simply creates enmity and fights with others for sense gratification. As a result, one suffers in the next life, but due to being like a blind man, he continues to act in such a way that he suffers unlimitedly. Such a person is a mudha, one who simply wastes his time and does not understand the Lords devotional service. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (7.25):
I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My eternal creative potency [yogamaya]; and so the deluded world knows Me not, who am unborn and infallible.
In the Katha Upanisad it is also said: avidyayam antare vartamanah svayam dhirah panditam manyamanah. Although ignorant, people still go to other blind men for leadership. As a result. both are subjected to miserable conditions. The blind lead the blind into the ditch.
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