Prabhupāda: The dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa . . . (SB 4.8.41, CC Ādi 1.90). Generally people take to religion for improving economic condition. It is going on. They go to the church, "O God, give us our daily bread." And they'll go to the temple, "O mother Kālī, give me this. O father Śiva, give me this." So they take it for economic development, dharma. But that is not the proper way. Dharmasya hy āpavargyasya. Dharma should be executed for stopping this material condition of life, apavarga. Pavarga. This material life is pavarga. Pa means pariśrama, hard labor. And pha means phena, so hard labor that foams comes. Pa, pha, ba. And still it is baffled, vyartha. Bha: and always fear. And ma means death. So pa, pha, ba, bha, ma. So dharma means to stop this pa, pha, ba, bha, ma.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: This is apa . . .?
Prabhupāda: Varga. It is pa-varga. There are five vargas: ka-varga, ca-varga, and the pa-varga. Very scientific. A-pa-varga. And that is the meaning. But these rascals, they have taken to increase the pa-varga, that śrama eva hi kevalam (SB 1.2.8). The basic principle of dharma is wrong. Dharma is meant for stopping this pa-varga. And they are increasing this pa-varga. And the next verse?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
- kāmasya nendriya-prītir
- lābho jīveta yāvatā
- jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā
- nārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥ
- (SB 1.2.10)
Prabhupāda: So then question will be that, "If we do not get some economic facilities, so how we can live?" And that's a fact. Therefore it is said here, dharmasya hi . . . no. What is that?