# SB 9.4.15-16 > श्रीशुक उवाच > अम्बरीषो महाभागः सप्तद्वीपवतीं महीम > अव्ययां च श्रियं लब्ध्वा विभवं चातुलं भुवि ॥१५॥ > मेनेऽतिदुर्लभं पुंसां सर्वं तत्स्वप्नसंस्तुतम > विद्वान्विभवनिर्वाणं तमो विशति यत्पुमान ॥१६॥ ## Text > śrī-śuka uvāca > ambarīṣo mahā-bhāgaḥ > sapta-dvīpavatīṁ mahīm > avyayāṁ ca śriyaṁ labdhvā > vibhavaṁ cātulaṁ bhuvi > > mene 'tidurlabhaṁ puṁsāṁ > sarvaṁ tat svapna-saṁstutam > vidvān vibhava-nirvāṇaṁ > tamo viśati yat pumān ## Synonyms *śrī-śukaḥ uvāca*—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; *ambarīṣaḥ*—King Ambarīṣa; *mahā-bhāgaḥ*—the greatly fortunate king; *sapta-dvīpavatīm*—consisting of seven islands; *mahīm*—the whole world; *avyayām ca*—and inexhaustible; *śriyam*—beauty; *labdhvā*—after achieving; *vibhavam ca*—and opulences; *atulam*—unlimited; *bhuvi*—in this earth; *mene*—he decided; *ati-durlabham*—which is rarely obtained; *puṁsām*—of many persons; *sarvam*—everything (he had obtained); *tat*—that which; *svapna-saṁstutam*—as if imagined in a dream; *vidvān*—completely understanding; *vibhava-nirvāṇam*—the annihilation of that opulence; *tamaḥ*—ignorance; *viśati*—fallen into; *yat*—because of which; *pumān*—a person. ## Translation **Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, the most fortunate personality, achieved the rule of the entire world, consisting of seven islands, and achieved inexhaustible, unlimited opulence and prosperity on earth. Although such a position is rarely obtained, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa did not care for it at all, for he knew very well that all such opulence is material. Like that which is imagined in a dream, such opulence will ultimately be destroyed. The King knew that any nondevotee who attains such opulence merges increasingly into material nature's mode of darkness.** ## Purport For a devotee material opulence is insignificant, whereas for a nondevotee material opulence is the cause of increasing bondage, for a devotee knows that anything material is temporary, whereas a nondevotee regards the temporary so-called happiness as everything and forgets the path of self-realization. Thus for the nondevotee material opulence is a disqualification for spiritual advancement.