यत्प्रीत्या प्रीतिमात्रं तनुयुवतितनूजार्थमुख्यं स तस्मा -त्प्रेयानात्माथ शोकास्पदमितरदतः प्रेय एतत्कथं स्यात् ।भार्याद्यं जीवितार्थी वितरति च वपुः स्वात्मनः श्रेय इच्छं -स्तस्मादात्मानमेव प्रियमधिकमुपासीत विद्वान्न चान्यत् ॥ ९ ॥
In plain words
Body, spouse, children and wealth become dear through the love of Ātma—the Self—so Ātma is dearer than any of them. Everything external becomes a lodging place for sorrow; how could it remain truly dear? Even one who protects the body for the sake of life is seeking one's own good. The wise therefore contemplate Ātma alone as supremely beloved.
Close to the Sanskrit
It is through love of Ātma—the Self—that body, young wife, son, wealth and the rest are dear; therefore Ātma is dearer than they. Since everything else is an abode of sorrow, how can an external thing be truly dear? One who wants to live protects the body because one seeks one's own good. Therefore the wise person should contemplate Ātma alone as dearest, and nothing else.