निपुणैः by wisemen, आत्मानम् themselves, तैस्तै: by their various means, नियमैः by their discipline, प्रयत्नतः with effort, कर्शयित्वा after crushing, धर्मः righteousness, प्राप्यते is attained, सुखात् from happiness, सुखम् joy, न लभ्यते will not be attained.

The wise earn dharma through getting their bodies emaciated by carefully adopting different means of discipline (selftorture). Happiness does not beget happiness.