Human life’s real occupation!

Saunaka said to Yudhisthira: Those who’re self-realized & have thus attained understanding of eternal cannot come under sway of temporal material affection. But those who’re materially engrossed are always dragged by their desires for sense gratification, which leads them to perform sinful activities. It is only when thirst for material gratification is renounced, one can actually become happy

For eg. It is seen that persons who strive to accumulate wealth undergo so many miseries, not only to acquire it but to maintain it as well. Sometimes one even has to sacrifice his life in pursuit of material advancement. Contentment is real cause of happiness & wise strives to remain satisfied in all conditions of life. Knowing well flickering nature of youth, beauty & company of loved ones, wise man never seeks pleasure in these things

You shouldn’t strive for material happiness but remain satisfied by keeping yourself firmly fixed on path of righteousness & spiritual elevation

Yudhisthira said: Whatever desire I’ve for accumulating wealth is not for my personal benefit. I know that whatever I possess should be employed in service of Brāhmanās. As a householder it’s my duty to provide all necessities of life for those who follow me or depend upon me

It is duty of householder to always have 4 things for reception of guests-water, a sitting place, a place to rest & food. Guests must always be received with pleasant looks, cheerful heart & sweet words. Every morning & evening a householder must put some food for cāndalās, dogs & birds. The wealth that such a householder earns by hard labor to maintain his family life is certainly virtuous

Saunaka said: What you’ve said is correct. But fault of such a household is that when one lives a life of sense enjoyment & acquires an object that is agreeable to senses, the desire to enjoy it burns within his heart. Thus, coming under control of his passions, he becomes blind to the real goal of human life which is self-realization. As a result, materially engrossed householder is forced to continue in vicious cycle of repeated birth & death & his suffering never ends

One should therefore act without attachment. The practice of Yoga, attainment of transcendental knowledge & performance of austerity are always superior to fruitive work

sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje

ahaituky apratihatā yayātmā suprasīdati

Supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated & uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self

Material existence is a diseased condition of actual life. Actual life is spiritual existence, where life is eternal, blissful & full of knowledge. Material existence is temporary, illusory & full of miseries. There is just futile attempt to get rid of miseries, & temporary cessation of misery is falsely called happiness

Thoughts? #gameoflife