एवं लोकं परं विद्यान्नश्वरं कर्मनिर्मितम् । सतुल्यातिशयध्वंसं यथा मण्डलवर्तिनाम् ॥ २० ॥
evaṁ lokaṁ paraṁ vidyān naśvaraṁ karma-nirmitam sa-tulyātiśaya-dhvaṁsaṁ yathā maṇḍala-vartinām
- evam
- in this way
- lokam
- the world
- param
- next (after this life)
- vidyāt
- one should understand as
- naśvaram
- impermanent
- karma-nirmitam
- created from fruitive work
- sa-tulya
- characterized by (the rivalry of) equals
- atiśaya
- and superiors
- dhvaṁsam
- and by ruination
- yathā
- as
- maṇḍala-vartinām
- (the rivalries) of minor rulers
One cannot find permanent happiness even on the heavenly planets, which one can attain in the next life by ritualistic ceremonies and sacrifices. Even in material heaven the living entity is disturbed by rivalry with his equals and envy of those superior to him. And since one’s residence in heaven is finished with the exhaustion of pious fruitive activities, the denizens of heaven are afflicted by fear, anticipating the destruction of their heavenly life. Thus they resemble kings who, though enviously admired by ordinary citizens, are constantly harassed by enemy kings and who therefore never attain actual happiness.