Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 52
Kṛṣṇa Leads Kālayavana to Mucukunda; The Yavana Is Burned; Mucukunda’s Prayers and Boon of Bhakti
करोति कर्माणि तप:सुनिष्ठितो निवृत्तभोगस्तदपेक्षयाददत् । पुनश्च भूयासमहं स्वराडिति प्रवृद्धतर्षो न सुखाय कल्पते ॥ ५२ ॥
karoti karmāṇi tapaḥ-suniṣṭhito nivṛtta-bhogas tad-apekṣayādadat punaś ca bhūyāsam ahaṁ sva-rāḍ iti pravṛddha-tarṣo na sukhāya kalpate
渴求更大权势的君王，严守本分，坚住苦行，舍离感官享乐而行布施；但若欲望炽盛，自以为“我独立自在、至高无上”，便不能得乐。
FAQs
This verse teaches that even after austerity and renouncing sense pleasure, the thirst to become greater (power, sovereignty, status) keeps growing and therefore does not produce true happiness.
In his reflection (as narrated by Śukadeva), Mucukunda points out that material desire resurfaces as subtle ambition—wanting to be “svarāṭ” (a sovereign)—and such craving perpetuates dissatisfaction rather than peace.
Use it as a check on “upgraded” desires: even when gross indulgence is reduced, watch for ambition-driven restlessness, and redirect goals toward inner contentment and devotion rather than status or control.