Text
bhagavad-bhakti-hīnasya
jātiḥ śāstraṁ japas tapaḥ
aprāṇasyeva dehasya
maṇḍanaṁ loka-rañjanam
Synonyms
bhagavat-bhakti-hīnasya—of a person devoid of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; jatih—birth in a high caste; sastram—knowledge in revealed scriptures; japaḥ—pronunciation of mantras; tapah—austerities and penances; aprāṇasya—which is dead; iva—like; dehasya—of a body; mandanam—decoration; loka—to the whims of people in general; rañjanam—simply pleasing. ¶
Translation
“ ‘For a person devoid of devotional service, birth in a great family or nation, knowledge of revealed scripture, performance of austerities and penance, and chanting of Vedic mantras are all like ornaments on a dead body. Such ornaments simply serve the concocted pleasures of the general populace.’ “ ¶