natah parataro loke
pumsah svartha-vyatikramah
yad-adhy anyasya preyastvam
atmanah sva-vyatikramat

Word for Word

na — not; atah — after this; paratarah — greater; loke — in this world; pumsah — of the living entities; sva-artha — interest; vyatikramah — obstruction; yat-adhi — beyond that; anyasya — of others; preyastvam — to be more interesting; atmanah — for the self; sva — own; vyatikramat — by obstruction.

TRANSLATION

There is no stronger obstruction to one’s self-interest than thinking other subject matters to be more pleasing than one’s self-realization.

PURPORT

Human life is especially meant for self-realization. “Self” refers to the Superself and the individual self, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entity. When, however, one becomes more interested in the body and bodily sense gratification, he creates for himself obstructions on the path of self-realization. By the influence of maya, one becomes more interested in sense gratification, which is prohibited in this world for those interested in self-realization. Instead of becoming interested in sense gratification, one should divert his activities to satisfy the senses of the Supreme Soul. Anything performed contrary to this principle is certainly against one’s self-interest.