yaḥ śhāstra-vidhim utsṛijya vartate kāma-kārataḥ
na sa siddhim avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim
yaḥ — who;
śhāstra-vidhim — scriptural injunctions;
utsṛijya — discarding;
vartate — act;
kāma-kārataḥ — under the impulse of desire;
na — neither;
saḥ — they;
siddhim — perfection;
avāpnoti — attain;
na — nor;
sukham — happiness;
na — nor;
parām — the supreme;
gatim — goal
This verse explains an important point about how we should live our lives. It says that if a person ignores the guidelines given in scriptures and instead chooses to act based only on their own desires and whims, they will not find true success or happiness in life.
Think of it this way: there are rules for how to play a game, and if someone decides to play it their own way without following those rules, they might not enjoy the game or even win. Similarly, in life, there are directions (from scriptures) meant to guide our actions and ensure we live in a way that can lead to a fulfilling life. These rules are not just for show; they are there to help everyone understand how to live better, uplifting their existence.
If someone continuously chooses to ignore these teachings and instead just pursues their own immediate desires—like craving for wealth, pleasure, or status—they will only end up feeling lost. The verse emphasizes that acting on pure desire without considering the guidelines will not lead to perfection. Perfection here means finding meaning and purpose in life.
Moreover, the verse stresses that merely knowing these guidelines and not putting them into practice doesn't help either. Someone might read all about these teachings but if they ignore them in their daily lives, they are considered to be in a very low state of living.
For instance, if someone knows it's healthy to eat vegetables but chooses to eat junk food every day, they are likely to suffer the consequences of poor health. Likewise, in the spiritual sense, if we ignore moral principles and live rashly, we are degrading ourselves.
The essence is that everyone has a responsibility to try and follow these teachings, as they are designed to improve our lives and help us connect with something greater than ourselves. Additionally, even if someone follows the rules but does not seek a deeper understanding of the Supreme, their efforts may feel empty. This means that simply following rules for the sake of it without a genuine intention to grow and connect with a higher purpose may not lead to real satisfaction.
Finally, this verse encourages everyone to progress spiritually, suggesting that by gradually aligning our lives with these higher principles and seeking to understand and serve the Supreme (like Krishna in this context), we can achieve the true perfection and happiness that we long for in life.