yas tv etat kṛcchrataś cīrṇaḿ
tapo niḥśreyasaḿ mahat
kāmāyālpīyase yuñjyād
bāliśaḥ ko 'paras tataḥ
yah -- one who; tu -- indeed; etat -- this; kricchratah -- with great penance; cirnam -- for a long time; tapah -- austerity; nihsreyasam -- awarding ultimate liberation; mahat -- glorious; kamaya -- for sense gratification; alpiyase -- insignificant; yunjyat -- practices; balisah -- such a fool; kah -- who; aparah -- else; tatah -- besides him.
One who with long endeavor executes this painful but exalted penance, which awards ultimate liberation, simply to achieve insignificant sense gratification must be considered the greatest fool.
Although the process of vanaprastha described by Lord Krishna is so glorious that even the consolation prize is promotion to Maharloka, one who consciously performs this process for such promotion to heaven is certainly the greatest fool. The Lord does not want this process to be abused or exploited by materialistic rascals, for the ultimate goal is love of Godhead.
