Text 19
nityārtidena vittena
durlabhenātma-mṛtyunā
gṛhāpatyāpta-paśubhiḥ
kā prītiḥ sādhitaiś calaiḥ
nitya — constantly; ārti-dena — giving pain; vittena — with wealth; durlabhena — hard to acquire; ātma-mṛtyunā — death for the self; gṛha — with one’s home; apatya — children; āpta — relatives; paśubhiḥ — and domestic animals; kā — what; prītiḥ — happiness; sādhitaiḥ — which are gained (by that wealth); calaiḥ — unsteady.
Wealth is a perpetual source of distress, it is most difficult to acquire, and it is virtual death for the soul. What satisfaction does one actually gain from his wealth? Similarly, how can one gain ultimate or permanent happiness from one’s so-called home, children, relatives and domestic animals, which are all maintained by one’s hard-earned money?