SB 12.2.36
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 36
eteṣāṁ nāma-liṅgānāṁ
puruṣāṇāṁ mahātmanām
kathā-mātrāvaśiṣṭānāṁ
kīrtir eva sthitā bhuvi
SYNONYMS
eteṣām—of these; nāma—their names; liṅgānām—which are the only means of remembering them; puruṣāṇām—of the personalities; mahā-ātmanām—who were great souls; kathā—the stories; mātra—merely; avaśiṣṭānām—whose remaining portion; kīrtiḥ—the glories; eva—only; sthitā—are present; bhuvi—on the earth.
TRANSLATION
These personalities, who were great souls, are now known only by their names. They exist only in accounts from the past, and only their fame remains on the earth.
PURPORT
Although one may consider oneself to be a great, powerful leader, he will ultimately end up as a name in a long list of names. In other words, it is useless to be attached to power and position in the material world.