Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 2
The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali
काम एष नरेन्द्राणां मोघ: स्याद् विदुषामपि । येन फेनोपमे पिण्डे येऽतिविश्रम्भिता नृपा: ॥ २ ॥
kāma eṣa narendrāṇāṁ moghaḥ syād viduṣām api yena phenopame piṇḍe ye ’ti-viśrambhitā nṛpāḥ
“Great rulers of men, even those who are learned, meet frustration and failure because of material lust. Driven by lust, these kings place great hope and faith in the dead lump of flesh called the body, even though the material frame is as fleeting as bubbles of foam on water.
FAQs
This verse states that lust is ultimately fruitless; it makes even rulers and learned people place blind confidence in the temporary body, leading to delusion and downfall.
Foam appears substantial but vanishes quickly; likewise the body is fragile and short-lived, so becoming proud and overly trusting in it is a mistake.
Remember the body’s impermanence, reduce decisions driven by lust and ego, and cultivate restraint and devotion so leadership and personal life are guided by dharma rather than impulse.