एकाक्यासीत्स पूर्वं मृगयति विषयानानुपूर्व्यान्तरात्माजाया मे स्यात्प्रजा वा धनमुपकरण कर्म कुर्वस्तदर्थम् ।क्लेशैः प्राणावशेषैर्महदपि मनुते नान्यदस्माद्गरीय -स्त्वेकालाभेऽप्यकृत्स्नो मृत इव विरमत्येकहान्याकृतार्थः ॥ ३१ ॥
In plain words
Beginning alone, the person turns outward in sequence: ‘Let me have a spouse, children, wealth and the means to perform rites,’ and labors in Karma for those ends. The struggle may leave only breath in the body, yet nothing seems more important. Miss one desired thing and life feels incomplete, almost dead; gain them all and the purpose of life seems accomplished.
Close to the Sanskrit
At first he was alone. Antarātma—the inner Self—then seeks objects in sequence: ‘May I have a wife, offspring, wealth and the means for rites,’ performing Karma for their sake. Through hardships that leave only breath, he holds nothing greater than these. If even one is not gained he feels incomplete and stops like one dead; when all are gained he thinks his purpose fulfilled.