Text 43] What Prahlāda Learned in the Womb
101
according to false ambitions, he thinks he can improve his material conditions by his activities. The  Vedas  enjoin that one should not try to increase happiness or decrease distress, for this is futile.  Tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovidaḥ . One should work for self-realization, not for economic development, which is impossible to improve. Without endeavor, one can get the amount of happiness and distress for which he is destined, and one cannot change this. Therefore, it is better to use one's time for advancement in the spiritual life of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One should not waste his valuable life as a human being. It is better to utilize this life for developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, without ambitions for so-called happiness.
TEXT 43
कामान्कामयते काम्यैर्यदर्थमिह पूरुषः । स वै देहस्तु पारक्यो मङ्गुरो यात्युपैति च ॥४३॥
kāmān kāmayate kāmyair yad-artham iha pūruṣaḥ sa vai dehas tu pārakyo bhaṅguro yāty upaiti ca
kāmān —things for sense gratification;  kāmayate —one desires;  kāmyaiḥ —by different desirable actions;  yat —of which;  artham —for the purpose;  iha —in this material world;  pūruṣaḥ —the living entity;  saḥ —that;  vai —indeed;  dehaḥ —body;  tu —but;  pārakyaḥ —belongs to others (the dogs, vultures, etc.);  bhaṅguraḥ —perishable;  yāti —goes away;  upaiti —embraces the spirit soul;  ca —and.
TRANSLATION
A living entity desires comfort for his body and makes many plans for this purpose, but actually the body is the property of others. Indeed, the perishable body embraces the living entity and then leaves him aside.
PURPORT
Everyone desires comfort for his body and tries to make a suitable situation for this purpose, forgetting that the body is meant to be eaten