100 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 7
anihayah—and from not desiring economic development; sukha—by
happiness; avrtah —covered.
TRANSLATION
In this material world, every materialist desires to achieve happi-
ness and diminish his distress, and therefore he acts accordingly.
Actually, however, one is happy as long as one does not endeavor
for happiness; as soon as one begins his activities for happiness,
his conditions of distress begin.
PURPORT
Every conditioned soul is bound by the laws of material nature, as de-
scribed in Bhagavad-gita (prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani
sarvasah). Everyone has achieved a certain type of body given by ma-
terial nature according to the instructions of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.
isvarah sarva-bhitanam
hrd-deSe ’rjuna tisthati
bhramayan sarva-bhiitani
yantraridhani mayaya
“The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is
directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a
machine, made of the material energy.” (Bg. 18.61) The Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead, the Supersoul, is present in everyone’s heart, and as
the living entity desires, the Lord gives him facilities with which to work
according to his ambitions in different grades of bodies. The body is just
like an instrument by which the living entity moves according to false
desires for happiness and thus suffers the pangs of birth, death, old age
and disease in different standards of life. Everyone begins his activities
with some plan and ambition, but actually, from the beginning of one’s
plan to the end, one does not derive any happiness. On the contrary, as
soon as one begins acting according to his plan, his life of distress im-
mediately begins. Therefore, one should not be ambitious to dissipate the
unhappy conditions of life, for one cannot do anything about them.
Ahankara-vimidhatma kartaham iti manyate. Although one is acting
