दीर्घदौरात्म्यवलया निपातफलपातया । न देहलतया कार्यं किञ्चिदस्ति विवेकिनः ॥ ४८ ॥
dīrghadaurātmyavalayā nipātaphalapātayā | na dēhalatayā kāryaṁ kiñcidasti vivēkinaḥ || 48 ||
Translation
With the creeper of the body, its coils long wickedness, its fruit falling to ruin, the man of discrimination has nothing to do.
Word by word
- dīrgha
- long
- daurātmya
- wickedness
- valayā
- its coils
- nipāta
- to ruin
- phala
- its fruit
- pātayā
- falling
- na
- nothing
- dēha
- of the body
- latayā
- with the creeper
- kāryaṁ
- to do
- kiñcid
- (kiñcit) at all
- asti
- has
- vivēkinaḥ
- the man of discrimination
Meaning
A creeper whose coils are long-lasting evil (daurātmya) and whose fruits drop and fall: it binds and gives nothing. The commentary: what use has the discriminating person for this creeper of the body, with its bonds of wickedness and its fruits of evil deeds that bring the fall? The verse does not say the wise neglect the body; it says they have "nothing to do" with it as a goal. It is not what they are for.