Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 43

कामात्मानः स्वर्गपरा जन्मकर्मफलप्रदाम् । क्रियाविशेषबहुलां भोगैश्वर्यगतिं प्रति ॥

kāmātmānaḥ svarga-parā janma-karma-phala-pradām | kriyā-viśeṣa-bahulāṁ bhogaiśvarya-gatiṁ prati ||

These desire-driven souls set heaven as their highest goal, believing rituals grant births blessed with power and pleasure, pursuing elaborate ceremonies for enjoyment and prosperity.

Krishna describes 'kāmātmānaḥ'—souls whose very identity is desire. They set heaven (svarga-parā) as their highest goal, believing elaborate rituals will grant them births filled with bhogaiśvarya—pleasure and power. Their spirituality is transactional: perform ceremonies, collect rewards. The trap isn't wanting good things—it's making temporary pleasures the ultimate aim. Heaven sounds appealing, but it's still temporary. You enjoy it, then you're back in the cycle. True wisdom points beyond the cycle entirely—not to better births but to mokṣa, liberation from birth and death itself.