Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 11 - Chapter 1 - Verse 12

Sanskrit:

श्रीभगवानुवाचयावद् देहेन्द्रियप्राणैरात्मन: सन्निकर्षणम् ।संसार: फलवांस्तावदपार्थोऽप्यविवेकिन: ॥ १२ ॥

ITRANS:

śrī-bhagavān uvācayāvad dehendriya-prāṇairātmanaḥ sannikarṣaṇamsaṁsāraḥ phalavāṁs tāvadapārtho ’py avivekinaḥ

Translation:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: As long as the foolish spirit soul remains attracted to the material body, senses and vital force, his material existence continues to flourish, although it is ultimately meaningless.

Purport:

Here the word sannikarṣaṇam indicates that the pure spirit soul voluntarily connects himself with the material body, considering this a most fruitful arrangement. Actually, the situation is apārtha, useless, unless one uses one’s embodied situation to engage in the loving service of the Lord. At that time one’s connection is actually with Lord Kṛṣṇa, not with the body, which becomes a mere instrument for executing one’s higher purpose.