TEXT 10
aho dainyam aho kastam
parakyaih ksana-bhanguraih
yan nopakuryad asvarthair
martyah sva-jnati-vigrahaih
SYNONYMS
ahoalas; dainyama miserable condition; ahoalas; kastamsimply tribulation; parakyaihwhich after death are eatable by dogs and jackals; ksana-bhanguraihperishable at any moment; yatbecause; nanot; upakuryatwould help; a-sva-arthaihnot meant for self-interest; martyaha living entity destined to die; svawith his wealth; jnatirelatives and friends; vigrahaihand his body.
TRANSLATION
This body, which is eatable by jackals and dogs after death, does not actually do any good for me, the spirit soul. It is usable only for a short time and may perish at any moment. The body and its possessions, its riches and relatives, must all be engaged for the benefit of others, or else they will be sources of tribulation and misery.
PURPORT
Similar advice is also given in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.22.35):
It is the duty of every living being to perform welfare activities for the benefit of others with his life, wealth, intelligence and words. This is the mission of life. Ones own body and the bodies of his friends and relatives, as well as ones own riches and everything else one has, should be engaged for the benefit of others. This is the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. As stated in Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 9.41):
One who has taken birth as a human being in the land of India [Bharata-varsa] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.
The word upakuryat means para-upakara, helping others. Of course, in human society there are many institutions to help others, but because philanthropists do not know how to help others, their propensity for philanthropy is ineffectual. They do not know the ultimate goal of life (sreya acaranam), which is to please the Supreme Lord. If all philanthropic and humanitarian activities were directed toward achieving the ultimate goal of lifeto please the Supreme Personality of Godheadthey would all be perfect. Humanitarian work without Krsna is nothing. Krsna must be brought to the center of all our activities; otherwise no activity will have value.

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