Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 12
The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings
स यदा दुग्धपूर्वसुकृतस्तदा कारस्करकाकतुण्डाद्यपुण्यद्रुमलताविषोदपानवदुभयार्थशून्यद्रविणान्जीवन्मृतान् स्वयं जीवन्म्रियमाण उपधावति ॥ १२ ॥
sa yadā dugdha-pūrva-sukṛtas tadā kāraskara-kākatuṇḍādy-apuṇya-druma-latā-viṣoda-pānavad ubhayārtha-śūnya-draviṇān jīvan-mṛtān svayaṁ jīvan-mriyamāṇa upadhāvati.
Nhờ phước lành đời trước, linh hồn bị ràng buộc đạt được tiện nghi vật chất trong đời này; nhưng khi chúng cạn kiệt, nó nương tựa vào của cải vốn vô ích cho cả đời này lẫn đời sau. Vì thế nó tìm đến những kẻ “sống mà như chết” đang nắm giữ các thứ ấy. Họ ví như cây leo ô uế và giếng độc; và chính nó cũng dần chết ngay khi còn sống.
The wealth and riches acquired through previous pious activities should not be misused for sense gratification. Enjoying them for sense gratification is like enjoying the fruits of a poisonous tree. Such activities will not help the conditioned soul in any way, neither in this life nor the next. However, if one engages his possessions in the service of the Lord under the guidance of a proper spiritual master, he will attain happiness both in this life and the next. Unless he does so, he eats a forbidden apple and thereby loses his paradise. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa therefore advises that one’s possessions should be given unto Him.
FAQs
This verse says that when one’s prior pious credit is used up, one chases wealth that brings neither true material welfare nor spiritual benefit—like drinking poison—making a person ‘alive yet dead’ due to anxiety and bondage.
In the allegory of the material world as a dangerous forest, Śukadeva explains that wealth sought through impious means and for sense enjoyment harms the soul—entangling one in suffering, fear, and forgetfulness of devotion.
Assess whether your pursuits give lasting value: avoid unethical earning and compulsive consumption, simplify needs, and redirect energy toward sādhana—hearing, chanting, and serving—so prosperity supports bhakti rather than becoming ‘poison.’