tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido
na labhyate yad bhramatÄm upary adhaḥ
tal labhyate duḥkha-vad anyataḥ sukhaá¹
kÄlena sarvatra gabhÄ«ra-raá¹hasÄ
tasya eva - for that; hetoḥ - reason; prayateta - should endeavor; kovidaḥ - one who is learned and intelligent; na - not; labhyate - is achieved; yat - that which; bhramatÄm - of those wandering; upari adhaḥ - up and down; tat - that; labhyate - is achieved; duḥkha-vat - exactly like unhappiness or distress; anyataḥ - from other reasons (one's past actions); sukham - happiness; kÄlena - by time; sarvatra - everywhere; gabhÄ«ra - insurmountable; raá¹hasÄ - having force.
This verse was spoken by NÄrada Muni in ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam (1.5.18). NÄrada Muni was speaking to VyÄsadeva, who was morose even after he had compiled all the Vedic literatures. In this connection, NÄrada Muni advised ÅšrÄ«la VyÄsadeva to try to attain devotional service and nothing else.