19.75
bhagavad-bhakti-hinasya
jatih sastram japas tapah
apranasyeva dehasya
mandanam loka-ranjanam
SYNONYMS
bhagavat-bhakti-hinasya—of a person devoid of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; jatih—birth in a high caste; sastram—knowledge in revealed scriptures; japah—pronunciation of mantras; tapah—austerities and penances; apranasya—which is dead; iva—like; dehasya—of a body; mandanam—decoration; loka—to the whims of people in general; ranjanam—simply pleasing “ ’For a person devoid of devotional service, birth in a great family or nation, knowledge of revealed scripture, performance of austerities and penance, and chanting of Vedic mantras are all like ornaments on a dead body.
Such ornaments simply serve the concocted pleasures of the general populace.’ ”