स्मृत्वेहायां परिक्लेशं ततः फलविपर्ययम् अभयं चाप्यनीहायां संकल्पाद्विरमेत्कविः
smṛtvehāyāṁ parikleśaṁ tataḥ phala-viparyayam abhayaṁ cāpy anīhāyāṁ saṅkalpād viramet kaviḥ
Synonyms
smṛtvā—remembering; īhāyām—in the field of activities with fruitive results; parikleśam—the waste of energy and the miserable conditions; tataḥ—from that; phala-viparyayam—the opposite of the desired result; abhayam—fearlessness; ca—also; api—indeed; anīhāyām—when there is no desire for fruitive results; saṅkalpāt—from material desire; viramet—should cease; kaviḥ—one who is advanced in knowledge..
Translation
Remembering the great trouble found in the field of activities performed for fruitive results, and remembering how one receives the reverse of the results one desires—whether from material actions or from the fruitive activities recommended in the Vedic literatures—an intelligent man should cease from the desire for fruitive actions, for by such endeavors one cannot achieve the ultimate goal of life. On the other hand, if one acts without desires for fruitive results—in other words, if one engages in devotional activities—he can achieve the highest goal of life with freedom from miserable conditions. Considering this, one should cease from material desires.