purvam nirjitya sad-vargam

 jesyamo raja-mantrinah

tatah saciva-paurapta-

 karindran asya kantakan

 

evam kramena jesyamah

 prthvim sagara-mekhalam

ity asa-baddha-hrdaya

 na pasyanty antike ’ntakam

 

Translation: 

 

“Kings and politicians imagine: ‘First I will conquer my senses and mind; then I will subdue my chief ministers and rid myself of the thorn-pricks of my advisors, citizens, friends and relatives, as well as the keepers of my elephants. In this way I will gradually conquer the entire earth.’ Because the hearts of these leaders are bound by great expectations, they fail to see death waiting nearby.

 

Purport: 

 

To satisfy their greed for power, determined politicians, dictators and military leaders undergo severe austerities and sacrifice, with much self-discipline. Then they lead their great nations in a struggle to control the sea, land, air and space. Although the politicians and their followers will soon be dead — since birth and death are all inevitable in this world — they persist in their frenetic struggle for ephemeral glory.