24.169
tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido
na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah
tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham
kalena sarvatra gabhira-ramhasa
SYNONYMS
tasya eva—for that; hetoh—reason; prayateta—should endeavor; kovidah—one who is learned and intelligent; na—not; labhyate—is achieved; yat—that which; bhramatam—of those wandering; upari adhah—up and down; tat—that; labhyate—is achieved; duhkhavat—exactly like unhappiness or distress; anyatah—from other reasons (one’s past actions); sukham—happiness; kalena—by time; sarvatra—everywhere; gabhira—insurmountable; ramhasa—having force " ’The transcendental position cannot be attained by wandering up and down from Brahmaloka and Satyaloka to Patalaloka.
If one is actually intelligent and learned, he should endeavor for that rare transcendental position.
Whatever material happiness is available within the fourteen worlds is attained by the force of time, just as one attains distress in due course of time.
Since these are not attained by spiritual consciousness, one should not try for them.’
PURPORT
This verse was spoken by Narada Muni in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.18).
Narada Muni was speaking to Vyasadeva, who was morose even after he had compiled all Vedic literatures.
In this connection, Narada Muni advised Srila Vyasadeva to attain devotional service.