—json {

  "name":"SB 3.23.53",
  "h1":"SB 3.23.53",
  "label":"Text 53",
  "title":"Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.23.53",
  "description":"Until now we have simply wasted so much of our time in sense gratification, neglecting to cultivate knowledge of the Supreme Lord."

} —

SB 3.23.53

एतावतालं कालेन व्यतिक्रान्तेन मे प्रभो ।
इन्द्रियार्थप्रसङ्गेन परित्यक्तपरात्मनः ॥५३॥

Text

etāvatālaṁ kālena
vyatikrāntena me prabho
indriyārtha-prasaṅgena
parityakta-parātmanaḥ

Synonyms

etāvatā—so much; alam—for nothing; kālena—time; vyatikrāntena—passed by; me—my; prabho—O my lord; indriya-artha—sense gratification; prasaṅgena—in the matter of indulging; parityakta—disregarding; para-ātmanaḥ—knowledge of the Supreme Lord.

Translation

Until now we have simply wasted so much of our time in sense gratification, neglecting to cultivate knowledge of the Supreme Lord.

Purport

Human life is not meant to be wasted, like that of the animals, in sense gratificatory activities. Animals always engage in sense gratification-eating, sleeping, fearing and mating—but that is not the engagement of the human being, although, because of the material body, there is need of sense gratification according to a regulative principle. So, in effect, Devahūti said to her husband: “So far we have these daughters, and we have enjoyed material life in the aerial mansion, traveling all over the universe. These boons have come by your grace, but they have all been for sense gratification. Now there must be something for my spiritual advancement.”