Word meanings
- ye
- which
- hi
- verily
- sansparśa-jāḥ
- born of contact with the sense objects
- bhogāḥ
- pleasures
- duḥkha
- misery
- yonayaḥ
- source of
- eva
- verily
- te
- they are
- ādya-antavantaḥ
- having beginning and end
- kaunteya
- Arjun, the son of Kunti
- na
- never
- teṣu
- in those
- ramate
- takes delight
- budhaḥ
- the wise
Translations
The enjoyments that arise from contact are only sources of pain, for they have a beginning and an end, O Arjuna; the wise do not rejoice in them.
The joys that spring from external associations bring pain; they have their beginnings and their endings. The wise person does not rejoice in them.
Since enjoyments that result from contact with objects are indeed the sources of sorrow, having a beginning and an end, O son of Kunti, the wise one does not delight in them.
क्योंकि हे कुन्तीनन्दन ! जो इन्द्रियों और विषयोंके संयोगसे पैदा होनेवाले भोग (सुख) हैं, वे आदि-अन्तवाले और दुःखके ही कारण हैं। अतः विवेकशील मनुष्य उनमें रमण नहीं करता।Commentary
Man goes in est of joy and searches in the external perishable objects for his happiness. He fails to get it but instead he carries a load of sorrow on his head. You should withdraw the senses from the senseobjects as there is no trace of happiness in them and fix the min on the immortal, blissful Self within. The senseobjects have a beginning and an end. Separation from the senseobjects gives you a lot of pain. During the interval between the origin and the end you experience a hollow, momentary, illusory pleasure.
This fleeting pleasure is due to Avidya or ignorance. Even in the other world you will have the same experience. He who is endowed with discrimination or the knowledge of the Self will never rejoice in these sensual objects. Only ignorant persons who are passionate will rejoice in the senseobjects. (Cf.II.14?XVIII.38)