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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The Aila-gītā

This chapter explains how unfavorable association is a threat to one’s position in devotional service and how by associating with saintly persons one can attain the highest platform of devotion.

The jīva who has received a human body, which is in itself most conducive toward achieving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and who has situated himself in the duties of devotional service to the Lord becomes capable of realizing Him, the very identity of spiritual bliss. Such a person, fully dedicated to the Supreme Personality, is liberated from the influence of Māyā; even while continuing to reside in this world created by illusion he is totally untouched by it. Those souls, on the other hand, who are bound up by Māyā are devoted only to their bellies and genitals. They are impure, and by associating with them one will fall down into the dark pit of ignorance.

The emperor Purūravā, who was bewildered by the association of the heavenly lady Urvaśī, later became renounced after being separated from her. He thus sang a song expressing his contempt for womanly connection. He described that persons who are attached to the body of a woman (or a man) — which is simply a mass of skin, meat, blood, sinew, brain tissue, marrow and bones — are not much different from worms. What is the worth of the education, austerity, renunciation, reception of the Vedas, solitary living and silence of one whose mind becomes stolen away by the body of a woman? Learned men should distrust their six mental enemies, headed by lust, and thus avoid associating with women or with men who are controlled by women. After declaring these facts, King Purūravā, now freed from the illusion of material existence, attained realization of the Supreme Lord in His form as the indwelling Supersoul.

In conclusion, one who is intelligent should give up bad association and let himself become attracted to the company of saintly persons. By their transcendental instructions, the saintly devotees of the Lord can break the false attachments of one’s mind. Real saints are always liberated and devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In their association there are constant discussions about the Supreme Lord, by serving whom the spirit soul completely eradicates his material sins and obtains pure devotional service. And when one gains the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the original ocean of unlimited perfect qualities, what else remains to be gained?

Devanagari

श्रीभगवानुवाच
मल्ल‍क्षणमिमं कायं लब्ध्वा मद्धर्म आस्थित: ।
आनन्दं परमात्मानमात्मस्थं समुपैति माम् ॥ १ ॥

Text

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
mal-lakṣaṇam imaṁ kāyaṁ
labdhvā mad-dharma āsthitaḥ
ānandaṁ paramātmānam
ātma-sthaṁ samupaiti mām

Synonyms

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; mat-lakṣaṇam — in which I can be realized; imam — this; kāyam — human body; labdhvā — having achieved; mat-dharme — in devotional service to Me; āsthitaḥ — situated; ānandam — who is pure ecstasy; parama-ātmānam — the Supreme Soul; ātma-stham — situated within the heart; samapaiti — he achieves; mām — Me.

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Having achieved this human form of life, which affords one the opportunity to realize Me, and being situated in My devotional service, one can achieve Me, the reservoir of all pleasure and the Supreme Soul of all existence, residing within the heart of every living being.

Purport

Because of bad association, even those who are spiritually liberated may fall down from self-realization. Within the material world the association of women is especially dangerous, and therefore in this chapter the Aila-gītā is spoken to prevent such a falldown. One can be saved from sex attraction by association with saintly persons, who awaken one’s real spiritual intelligence. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa will speak to Uddhava the amazing song of Purūravā, also known as the Aila-gītā.

Devanagari

गुणमय्या जीवयोन्या विमुक्तो ज्ञाननिष्ठया ।
गुणेषु मायामात्रेषु द‍ृश्यमानेष्ववस्तुत: ।
वर्तमानोऽपि न पुमान् युज्यतेऽवस्तुभिर्गुणै: ॥ २ ॥

Text

guṇa-mayyā jīva-yonyā
vimukto jñāna-niṣṭhayā
guṇeṣu māyā-mātreṣu
dṛśyamāneṣv avastutaḥ
vartamāno ’pi na pumān
yujyate ’vastubhir guṇaiḥ

Synonyms

guṇa-mayyā — based on the modes of nature; jīva-yonyā — from the cause of material life, false identification; vimuktaḥ — one who has become completely free; jñāna — in transcendental knowledge; niṣṭhayā — by being properly fixed; guṇeṣu — among the products of the modes of nature; māyā-mātreṣu — which are simply illusion; dṛśyamāneṣu — appearing before the eyes; avastutaḥ — although not real; vartamānaḥ — living; api — although; na — does not; pumān — that person; yujyate — become entangled; avastubhiḥ — unreal; guṇaiḥ — with the manifestations of the modes of nature.

Translation

A person fixed in transcendental knowledge is freed from conditioned life by giving up his false identification with the products of the material modes of nature. Seeing these products as simply illusion, he avoids entanglement with the modes of nature, although constantly among them. Because the modes of nature and their products are simply not real, he does not accept them.

Purport

The three modes of nature become manifest as varieties of material bodies, places, families, countries, foods, sports, war, peace and so forth. In other words, everything we see within the material world is constituted of the modes of nature. A liberated soul, although existing within the ocean of material energy, sees everything as the property of the Lord and is thus not entangled. Although Māyā tempts such a liberated soul to become a thief — to steal the property of the Lord for sense gratification — a Kṛṣṇa conscious person does not bite the bait of Māyā; he remains honest and pure in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In other words, he does not believe that anything within the universe can become his personal property for sense gratification, especially the illusory form of a woman.

Devanagari

सङ्गं न कुर्यादसतां शिश्न‍ोदरतृपां क्व‍‍चित् ।
तस्यानुगस्तमस्यन्धे पतत्यन्धानुगान्धवत् ॥ ३ ॥

Text

saṅgaṁ na kuryād asatāṁ
śiśnodara-tṛpāṁ kvacit
tasyānugas tamasy andhe
pataty andhānugāndha-vat

Synonyms

saṅgam — association; na kuryāt — one should never make; asatām — of those who are materialistic; śiśna — the genitals; udara — and the belly; tṛpām — who are devoted to gratifying; kvacit — at any time; tasya — of any such person; anugaḥ — the follower; tamasi andhe — into the darkest pit; patati — he falls; andha-anuga — following a blind man; andha-vat — just like another blind man.

Translation

One should never associate with materialists, those dedicated to gratifying their genitals and bellies. By following them one falls into the deepest pit of darkness, just like a blind man who follows another blind man.

Devanagari

ऐल: सम्राडिमां गाथामगायत बृहच्छ्रवा: ।
उर्वशीविरहान् मुह्यन् निर्विण्ण: शोकसंयमे ॥ ४ ॥

Text

ailaḥ samrāḍ imāṁ gāthām
agāyata bṛhac-chravāḥ
urvaśī-virahān muhyan
nirviṇṇaḥ śoka-saṁyame

Synonyms

ailaḥ — King Purūravā; samrāṭ — the great emperor; imām — this; gāthām — song; agāyata — sang; bṛhat — mighty; śravāḥ — whose fame; urvaśī-virahāt — because of experiencing separation from Urvaśī; muhyan — becoming bewildered; nirviṇṇaḥ — feeling detached; śoka — his lamentation; saṁyame — when he was finally able to bring under control.

Translation

The following song was sung by the famous emperor Purūravā. When deprived of his wife, Urvaśī, he was at first bewildered, but by controlling his lamentation he began to feel detachment.

Purport

This story is also narrated in the Ninth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Aila, or Purūravā, was a great king whose glories were vast. On being separated from Urvaśī, he felt great bewilderment at first. But after meeting her briefly at Kurukṣetra, he worshiped the demigods with the sacrificial fire given him by the Gandharvas and received the privilege of entering the planet where she resided.

Devanagari

त्यक्त्वात्मानं व्रजन्तीं तां नग्न उन्मत्तवन्नृप: ।
विलपन्नन्वगाज्जाये घोरे तिष्ठेति विक्लव: ॥ ५ ॥

Text

tyaktvātmānaṁ vrayantīṁ tāṁ
nagna unmatta-van nṛpaḥ
vilapann anvagāj jāye
ghore tiṣṭheti viklavaḥ

Synonyms

tyaktvā — abandoning; ātmānam — him; vrajantīm — going away; tām — unto her; nagnaḥ — being naked; unmatta-vat — like a madman; nṛpaḥ — the king; vilapan — crying out; anvagāt — followed; jāye — O my wife; ghore — O terrible woman; tiṣṭha — please stop; iti — thus speaking; viklavaḥ — overwhelmed with distress.

Translation

When she was leaving him, even though he was naked he ran after her just like a madman and called out in great distress, “O my wife, O terrible lady! Please stop!”

Purport

As his beloved wife was leaving him, the shocked king was crying out, “My dear wife, please think for a moment. Just stop! You terrible lady, can’t you stop? Why don’t we speak together for a while? Why are you killing me?” Thus lamenting, he followed her.

Devanagari

कामानतृप्तोऽनुजुषन् क्षुल्ल‍कान् वर्षयामिनी: ।
न वेद यान्तीर्नायान्तीरुर्वश्याकृष्टचेतन: ॥ ६ ॥

Text

kāmān atṛpto ’nujuṣan
kṣullakān varṣa-yāminīḥ
na veda yāntīr nāyāntīr
urvaśy-ākṛṣṭa-cetanaḥ

Synonyms

kāmān — lusty desires; atṛptaḥ — unsatiated; anujuṣan — gratifying; kṣullakān — insignificant; varṣa — of many years; yāminīḥ — the nights; na veda — he did not know; yāntīḥ — going; na — nor; āyāntīḥ — approaching; urvaśī — by Urvaśī; ākṛṣṭa — attracted; cetanaḥ — his mind.

Translation

Although for many years Purūravā had enjoyed sex pleasure in the evening hours, still he was not satisfied by such insignificant enjoyment. His mind was so attracted to Urvaśī that he did not notice how the nights were coming and going.

Purport

This verse refers to Purūravā’s materialistic experience with Urvaśī.

Devanagari

ऐल उवाच
अहो मे मोहविस्तार: कामकश्मलचेतस: ।
देव्या गृहीतकण्ठस्य नायु:खण्डा इमे स्मृता: ॥ ७ ॥

Text

aila uvāca
aho me moha-vistāraḥ
kāma-kaśmala-cetasaḥ
devyā gṛhīta-kaṇṭhasya
nāyuḥ-khaṇḍā ime smṛtāḥ

Synonyms

ailaḥ uvāca — King Purūravā said; aho — alas; me — my; moha — of the delusion; vistāraḥ — the extent; kāma — by lust; kaśmala — contaminated; cetasaḥ — my consciousness; devyā — by this goddess; gṛhīta — is seized; kaṇṭhasya — whose neck; na — have not; āyuḥ — of my life span; khaṇḍāḥ — the divisions; ime — these; smṛtāḥ — been taken notice of.

Translation

King Aila said: Alas, just see the extent of my delusion! This goddess was embracing me and held my neck in her grip. My heart was so polluted by lust that I had no idea how my life was passing.

Devanagari

नाहं वेदाभिनिर्मुक्त: सूर्यो वाभ्युदितोऽमुया ।
मूषितो वर्षपूगानां बताहानि गतान्युत ॥ ८ ॥

Text

nāhaṁ vedābhinirmuktaḥ
sūryo vābhyudito ’muyā
mūṣito varṣa-pūgānāṁ
batāhāni gatāny uta

Synonyms

na — did not; aham — I; veda — know; abhinirmuktaḥ — having set; sūryaḥ — the sun; — or; abhyuditaḥ — risen; amuyā — by her; mūṣitaḥ — deceived; varṣa — years; pūgānām — comprising many; bata — alas; ahāni — days; gatāni — have gone; uta — certainly.

Translation

That lady cheated me so much that I did not even see the rising or setting of the sun. Alas, for so many years I passed my days in vain!

Purport

Due to attachment to the goddess, King Purūravā forgot his devotional service to the Supreme Lord and became more concerned with pleasing this beautiful young lady. Thus he later lamented, having wasted his valuable time. Those who are Kṛṣṇa conscious utilize every moment in the Lord’s loving service.

Devanagari

अहो मे आत्मसम्मोहो येनात्मा योषितां कृत: ।
क्रीडामृगश्चक्रवर्ती नरदेवशिखामणि: ॥ ९ ॥

Text

aho me ātma-sammoho
yenātmā yoṣitāṁ kṛtaḥ
krīḍā-mṛgaś cakravartī
naradeva-śikhāmaṇiḥ

Synonyms

aho — alas; me — my; ātma — of myself; sammohaḥ — total bewilderment; yena — by which; ātmā — my body; yoṣitām — of women; kṛtaḥ — became; krīḍā-mṛgaḥ — a toy animal; cakravartī — mighty emperor; naradeva — of kings; śikhā-maṇiḥ — the crown jewel.

Translation

Alas, although I am supposed to be a mighty emperor, the crown jewel of all kings on this earth, just see how my bewilderment has rendered me a toy animal in the hands of women!

Purport

Since the king’s body had become fully engaged in satisfying the superficial desires of women, his body was now like a toy animal in their hands.

Devanagari

सपरिच्छदमात्मानं हित्वा तृणमिवेश्वरम् ।
यान्तीं स्‍त्रियं चान्वगमं नग्न उन्मत्तवद् रुदन् ॥ १० ॥

Text

sa-paricchadam ātmānaṁ
hitvā tṛṇam iveśvaram
yāntīṁ striyaṁ cānvagamaṁ
nagna unmatta-vad rudan

Synonyms

sa-paricchadam — along with my kingdom and all paraphernalia; ātmānam — myself; hitvā — abandoning; tṛṇam — a blade of grass; iva — as if; īśvaram — the powerful lord; yāntīm — going away; striyam — the woman; ca — and; anvagaman — I followed; nagnaḥ — naked; unmatta-vat — like a madman; rudan — crying out.

Translation

Although I was a powerful lord with great opulence, that woman gave me up as if I were no more than an insignificant blade of grass. And still, naked and without shame, I followed her, crying out to her like a madman.

Devanagari

कुतस्तस्यानुभाव: स्यात् तेज ईशत्वमेव वा ।
योऽन्वगच्छंस्‍त्रियं यान्तीं खरवत् पादताडित: ॥ ११ ॥

Text

kutas tasyānubhāvaḥ syāt
teja īśatvam eva vā
yo ’nvagacchaṁ striyaṁ yāntīṁ
khara-vat pāda-tāḍitaḥ

Synonyms

kutaḥ — where; tasya — of that person (myself); anubhāvaḥ — the influence; syāt — is; tejaḥ — strength; īśatvam — sovereignty; eva — indeed; — or; yaḥ — who; anvagaccham — ran after; striyam — this woman; yāntīm — while going away; khara-vat — just like an ass; pāda — by the foot; tāḍitaḥ — punished.

Translation

Where are my so-called great influence, power and sovereignty? Just like an ass being kicked in the face by his she-ass, I ran after that woman, who had already given me up.

Devanagari

किं विद्यया किं तपसा किं त्यागेन श्रुतेन वा ।
किं विविक्तेन मौनेन स्‍त्रीभिर्यस्य मनो हृतम् ॥ १२ ॥

Text

kiṁ vidyayā kiṁ tapasā
kiṁ tyāgena śrutena vā
kiṁ viviktena maunena
strībhir yasya mano hṛtam

Synonyms

kim — what is the use; vidyayā — of knowledge; kim — what; tapasā — of austerities; kim — what; tyāgena — of renunciation; śrutena — of having studied the scriptures; — or; kim — what; viviktena — of solitude; maunena — of silence; strībhiḥ — by women; yasya — whose; manaḥ — the mind; hṛtam — taken away.

Translation

What is the use of a big education or the practice of austerities and renunciation, and what is the use of studying religious scriptures, of living in solitude and silence, if, after all that, one’s mind is stolen by a woman?

Purport

All of the above-mentioned processes are useless if one’s heart and mind are stolen by an insignificant woman. One who hankers after a woman’s association certainly spoils his spiritual progress. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura states that if one worships the example of the liberated gopīs of Vṛndāvana, who accepted Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as their paramour, one can free one’s mental activities from the contamination of lust.

Devanagari

स्वार्थस्याकोविदं धिङ् मां मूर्खं पण्डितमानिनम् ।
योऽहमीश्वरतां प्राप्य स्‍त्रीभिर्गोखरवज्जित: ॥ १३ ॥

Text

svārthasyākovidaṁ dhiṅ māṁ
mūrkhaṁ paṇḍita-māninam
yo ’ham īśvaratāṁ prāpya
strībhir go-khara-vaj jitaḥ

Synonyms

sva-arthasya — his own best interest; akovidam — who does not know; dhik — to hell; mām — with me; mūrkham — a fool; paṇḍita-māninam — imagining himself to be a great scholar; yaḥ — who; aham — I; īśvaratām — the position of lordship; prāpya — achieving; strībhiḥ — by women; go-khara-vat — like a bullock or an ass; jitaḥ — conquered.

Translation

To hell with me! I am such a fool that I didn’t even know what was good for me, although I arrogantly thought I was highly intelligent. Although I achieved the exalted position of a lord, I allowed myself to be conquered by women as if I were a bullock or a jackass.

Purport

All the fools of this world consider themselves very wise scholars even though, intoxicated by sense gratification and maddened by their lust for women’s association, they become just like bullocks and jackasses. By the mercy of a saintly spiritual master, this lusty propensity can gradually be removed and one can understand the terrible, contemptible nature of material sense gratification. In this verse King Purūravā is coming to his senses in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Devanagari

सेवतो वर्षपूगान् मे उर्वश्या अधरासवम् ।
न तृप्यत्यात्मभू: कामो वह्निराहुतिभिर्यथा ॥ १४ ॥

Text

sevato varṣa-pūgān me
urvaśyā adharāsavam
na tṛpyaty ātma-bhūḥ kāmo
vahnir āhutibhir yathā

Synonyms

sevataḥ — who was serving; varṣa-pūgān — for many years; me — my; urvaśyāḥ — of Urvaśī; adhara — of the lips; āsavam — the nectar; na tṛpyati — never became satisfied; ātma-bhūḥ — born from the mind; kāmaḥ — the lust; vahniḥ — fire; āhutibhiḥ — by oblations; yathā — just as.

Translation

Even after I had served the so-called nectar of the lips of Urvaśī for many years, my lusty desires kept rising again and again within my heart and were never satisfied, just like a fire that can never be extinguished by the oblations of ghee poured into its flames.

Devanagari

पुंश्चल्यापहृतं चित्तं को न्वन्यो मोचितुं प्रभु: ।
आत्मारामेश्वरमृते भगवन्तमधोक्षजम् ॥ १५ ॥

Text

puṁścalyāpahṛtaṁ cittaṁ
ko nv anyo mocituṁ prabhuḥ
ātmārāmeśvaram ṛte
bhagavantam adhokṣajam

Synonyms

puṁścalyā — by a prostitute; apahṛtam — stolen; cittam — the intelligence; kaḥ — who; nu — indeed; anyaḥ — other person; mocitum — to free; prabhuḥ — is capable; ātma-ārāma — of the self-satisfied sages; īśvaram — the Lord; ṛte — except for; bhagavantam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; adhokṣajam — who lies beyond the purview of material senses.

Translation

Who but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who lies beyond material perception and is the Lord of self-satisfied sages, can possibly save my consciousness, which has been stolen by a prostitute?

Devanagari

बोधितस्यापि देव्या मे सूक्तवाक्येन दुर्मते: ।
मनोगतो महामोहो नापयात्यजितात्मन: ॥ १६ ॥

Text

bodhitasyāpi devyā me
sūkta-vākyena durmateḥ
mano-gato mahā-moho
nāpayāty ajitātmanaḥ

Synonyms

bodhitasya — who had been informed; api — even; devyā — by the goddess Urvaśī; me — of me; su-ukta — well-spoken; vākyena — by words; durmateḥ — whose intelligence was dull; manaḥ-gataḥ — within the mind; mahā-mohaḥ — the great confusion; na apayāti — did not cease; ajita-ātmanaḥ — who had failed to control his senses.

Translation

Because I allowed my intelligence to become dull and because I failed to control my senses, the great confusion in my mind did not go away, even though Urvaśī herself gave me wise counsel with well-spoken words.

Purport

As described in the Ninth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the goddess Urvaśī plainly told Purūravā that he should never trust women or believe their promises. Despite this frank advice, he became fully attached and thus suffered great mental anguish.

Devanagari

किमेतया नोऽपकृतं रज्ज्वा वा सर्पचेतस: ।
द्रष्टु: स्वरूपाविदुषो योऽहं यदजितेन्द्रिय: ॥ १७ ॥

Text

kim etayā no ’pakṛtaṁ
rajjvā vā sarpa-cetasaḥ
draṣṭuḥ svarūpāviduṣo
yo ’haṁ yad ajitendriyaḥ

Synonyms

kim — what; etayā — by her; naḥ — to us; apakṛtam — offense has been done; rajjvā — by a rope; — or; sarpa-cetasaḥ — who is thinking it to be a snake; draṣṭuḥ — of such a seer; svarūpa — the real identity; aviduṣaḥ — who does not understand; yaḥ — who; aham — I; yat — because of; ajita-indriyaḥ — having not controlled the senses.

Translation

How can I blame her for my trouble when I myself am ignorant of my real, spiritual nature? I did not control my senses, and so I am like a person who mistakenly sees a harmless rope as a snake.

Purport

When a person mistakes a rope for a snake, he becomes fearful and anxious. Such fear and anxiety are, of course, illusion, since the rope can never bite. Similarly, one who mistakenly thinks that the material, illusory energy of the Lord exists for his personal sense gratification will certainly bring down on his head an avalanche of material, illusory fear and anxiety. King Purūravā frankly admits here that the young lady Urvaśī is not to blame. After all, it was Purūravā who mistakenly considered her to be an object of his personal enjoyment, and therefore he suffered the reaction by the laws of nature. Purūravā himself was the offender for trying to exploit the external form of Urvaśī.

Devanagari

क्व‍ायं मलीमस: कायो दौर्गन्ध्याद्यात्मकोऽशुचि: ।
क्व‍ गुणा: सौमनस्याद्या ह्यध्यासोऽविद्यया कृत: ॥ १८ ॥

Text

kvāyaṁ malīmasaḥ kāyo
daurgandhyādy-ātmako ’śuciḥ
kva guṇāḥ saumanasyādyā
hy adhyāso ’vidyayā kṛtaḥ

Synonyms

kva — where; ayam — this; malīmasaḥ — very filthy; kāyaḥ — material body; daurgandhya — bad odor; ādi — and so on; ātmakaḥ — consisting of; aśuciḥ — unclean; kva — where; guṇāḥ — the so-called good qualities; saumanasya — the fragrance and tenderness of flowers; ādyāḥ — and so on; hi — certainly; adhyāsaḥ — the superficial imposition; avidyayā — by ignorance; kṛtaḥ — created.

Translation

What is this polluted body anyway — so filthy and full of bad odors? I was attracted by the fragrance and beauty of a woman’s body, but what are those so-called attractive features? They are simply a false covering created by illusion.

Purport

Purūravā now understands that although he was madly attracted to the fragrant, shapely body of Urvaśī, in fact that body was a sack of stool, gas, bile, mucus, hairs and other repugnant elements. In other words, Purūravā is now becoming sane.

Devanagari

पित्रो: किं स्वं नु भार्याया: स्वामिनोऽग्ने: श्वगृध्रयो: ।
किमात्मन: किं सुहृदामिति यो नावसीयते ॥ १९ ॥
तस्मिन् कलेवरेऽमेध्ये तुच्छनिष्ठे विषज्जते ।
अहो सुभद्रं सुनसं सुस्मितं च मुखं स्‍त्रिय: ॥ २० ॥

Text

pitroḥ kiṁ svaṁ nu bhāryāyāḥ
svāmino ’gneḥ śva-gṛdhrayoḥ
kim ātmanaḥ kiṁ suhṛdām
iti yo nāvasīyate
tasmin kalevare ’medhye
tuccha-niṣṭhe viṣajjate
aho su-bhadraṁ su-nasaṁ
su-smitaṁ ca mukhaṁ striyaḥ

Synonyms

pitroḥ — of the parents; kim — whether; svam — the property; nu — or; bhāryāyāḥ — of the wife; svāminaḥ — of the employer; agneḥ — of the fire; śva-gṛdhrayoḥ — of the dogs and vultures; kim — whether; ātmanaḥ — of the soul; kim — whether; suhṛdām — of friends; iti — thus; yaḥ — who; na avasīyate — can never decide; tasmin — to that; kalevare — material body; amedhye — abominable; tuccha-niṣṭhe — heading toward the lowest destination; viṣajjate — becomes attached; aho — ah; su-bhadram — very attractive; su-nasam — having a beautiful nose; su-smitam — beautiful smile; ca — and; mukham — the face; striyaḥ — of a woman.

Translation

One can never decide whose property the body actually is. Does it belong to one’s parents, who have given birth to it, to one’s wife, who gives it pleasure, or to one’s employer, who orders the body around? Is it the property of the funeral fire or of the dogs and jackals who may ultimately devour it? Is it the property of the indwelling soul, who partakes in its happiness and distress, or does the body belong to intimate friends who encourage and help it? Although a man never definitely ascertains the proprietor of the body, he becomes most attached to it. The material body is a polluted material form heading toward a lowly destination, yet when a man stares at the face of a woman he thinks, “What a good-looking lady! What a charming nose she’s got, and see her beautiful smile!”

Purport

The phrase tuccha-niṣṭhe, or “headed toward a lowly destination,” indicates that if buried, the body will be consumed by worms; if burned, it will turn to ashes; and if dying in a lonely place, it will be consumed by dogs and vultures. The illusory potency of Māyā enters within the female form and bewilders a man’s mind. The man is attracted to Māyā appearing within the female form, but when he embraces the woman’s body he ends up with two handfuls of stool, blood, mucus, pus, skin, bone, hairs and flesh. People should not be like cats and dogs, in the ignorance of bodily consciousness. A human being should be enlightened in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and learn to serve the Supreme Lord without falsely trying to exploit His potencies.

Devanagari

त्वङ्‍मांसरुधिरस्‍नायुमेदोमज्जास्थिसंहतौ ।
विण्मूत्रपूये रमतां कृमीणां कियदन्तरम् ॥ २१ ॥

Text

tvaṅ-māṁsa-rudhira-snāyu-
medo-majjāsthi-saṁhatau
viṇ-mūtra-pūye ramatāṁ
kṛmīṇāṁ kiyad antaram

Synonyms

tvak — out of skin; māṁsa — flesh; rudhira — blood; snāyu — muscle; medaḥ — fat; majjā — marrow; asthi — and bone; saṁhatau — composed; viṭ — of stool; mūtra — urine; pūye — and pus; ramatām — enjoying; kṛmīṇām — compared to the worms; kiyat — how much; antaram — difference.

Translation

What difference is there between ordinary worms and persons who try to enjoy this material body composed of skin, flesh, blood, muscle, fat, marrow, bone, stool, urine and pus?

Devanagari

अथापि नोपसज्जेत स्‍त्रीषु स्‍त्रैणेषु चार्थवित् ।
विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगान्मन: क्षुभ्यति नान्यथा ॥ २२ ॥

Text

athāpi nopasajjeta
strīṣu straiṇeṣu cārtha-vit
viṣayendriya-saṁyogān
manaḥ kṣubhyati nānyathā

Synonyms

atha api — yet therefore; na upasajjeta — he should never make contact; strīṣu — with women; straiṇeṣu — with men who are attached to women; ca — or; artha-vit — one who knows what is best for him; viṣaya — of the objects of enjoyment; indriya — with the senses; saṁyogāt — because of the connection; manaḥ — the mind; kṣubhyati — becomes agitated; na — not; anyathā — otherwise.

Translation

Yet even one who theoretically understands the actual nature of the body should never associate with women or with men attached to women. After all, the contact of the senses with their objects inevitably agitates the mind.

Devanagari

अद‍ृष्टादश्रुताद् भावान्न भाव उपजायते ।
असम्प्रयुञ्जत: प्राणान् शाम्यति स्तिमितं मन: ॥ २३ ॥

Text

adṛṣṭād aśrutād bhāvān
na bhāva upajāyate
asamprayuñjataḥ prāṇān
śāmyati stimitaṁ manaḥ

Synonyms

adṛṣṭāt — which is not seen; aśrutāt — which is not heard; bhāvāt — from a thing; na — does not; bhāvaḥ — mental agitation; upajāyate — arise; asamprayuñjataḥ — for one who is not using; prāṇān — the senses; śāmyati — becomes pacified; stimitam — checked; manaḥ — the mind.

Translation

Because the mind is not disturbed by that which is neither seen nor heard, the mind of a person who restricts the material senses will automatically be checked in its material activities and become pacified.

Purport

It may be argued that even while closing one’s eyes, while dreaming or while living in a solitary place, one may remember or contemplate sense gratification. Such an experience, however, is due to previous sense gratification that one repeatedly saw and heard about. When one restricts the senses from their objects, especially from intimate contact with women, the mind’s material propensity will slacken and, like a fire without fuel, eventually die.

Devanagari

तस्मात् सङ्गो न कर्तव्य: स्‍त्रीषु स्‍त्रैणेषु चेन्द्रियै: ।
विदुषां चाप्यविस्रब्ध: षड्‍वर्ग: किमु माद‍ृशाम् ॥ २४ ॥

Text

tasmāt saṅgo na kartavyaḥ
strīṣu straiṇeṣu cendriyaiḥ
viduṣāṁ cāpy avisrabdhaḥ
ṣaḍ-vargaḥ kim u mādṛśām

Synonyms

tasmāt — therefore; saṅgaḥ — association; na kartavyaḥ — should never be made; strīṣu — with women; straiṇeṣu — with men attached to women; ca — and; indriyaiḥ — by one’s senses; viduṣām — of wise men; ca api — even; avisrabdhaḥ — untrustworthy; ṣaṭ-vargaḥ — the six enemies of the mind (lust, anger, greed, bewilderment, intoxication and envy); kim u — what to speak; mādṛśām — of persons like me.

Translation

Therefore one should never let his senses associate freely with women or with men attached to women. Even those who are highly learned cannot trust the six enemies of the mind; what to speak, then, of foolish persons like me.

Devanagari

श्रीभगवानुवाच
एवं प्रगायन् नृपदेवदेव:
स उर्वशीलोकमथो विहाय ।
आत्मानमात्मन्यवगम्य मां वै
उपारमज्ज्ञानविधूतमोह: ॥ २५ ॥

Text

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
evaṁ pragāyan nṛpa-deva-devaḥ
sa urvaśī-lokam atho vihāya
ātmānam ātmany avagamya māṁ vai
upāramaj jñāna-vidhūta-mohaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; evam — in this way; pragāyan — singing; nṛpa — among men; deva — and among demigods; devaḥ — who was eminent; saḥ — he, King Purūravā; urvaśī-lokam — the planet of Urvaśī, Gandharvaloka; atha u — then; vihāya — giving up; ātmānam — the Supreme Soul; ātmani — within his own heart; avagamya — realizing; mām — Me; vai — indeed; upāramat — he became peaceful; jñāna — by transcendental knowledge; vidhūta — removed; mohaḥ — his illusion.

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Having thus chanted this song, Mahārāja Purūravā, eminent among the demigods and human beings, gave up the position he had achieved in the planet of Urvaśī. His illusion cleansed away by transcendental knowledge, he understood Me to be the Supreme Soul within his heart and so at last achieved peace.

Devanagari

ततो दु:सङ्गमुत्सृज्य सत्सु सज्जेत बुद्धिमान् ।
सन्त एवास्य छिन्दन्ति मनोव्यासङ्गमुक्तिभि: ॥ २६ ॥

Text

tato duḥsaṅgam utsṛjya
satsu sajjeta buddhimān
santa evāsya chindanti
mano-vyāsaṅgam uktibhiḥ

Synonyms

tataḥ — therefore; duḥsaṅgam — bad association; utsṛjya — throwing away; satsu — to saintly devotees; sajjeta — he should become attached; buddhi-mān — one who is intelligent; santaḥ — saintly persons; eva — only; asya — his; chindanti — cut off; manaḥ — of the mind; vyāsaṅgam — excessive attachment; uktibhiḥ — by their words.

Translation

An intelligent person should therefore reject all bad association and instead take up the association of saintly devotees, whose words cut off the excessive attachment of one’s mind.

Devanagari

सन्तोऽनपेक्षा मच्चित्ता: प्रशान्ता: समदर्शिन: ।
निर्ममा निरहङ्कारा निर्द्वन्द्वा निष्परिग्रहा: ॥ २७ ॥

Text

santo ’napekṣā mac-cittāḥ
praśāntāḥ sama-darśinaḥ
nirmamā nirahaṅkārā
nirdvandvā niṣparigrahāḥ

Synonyms

santaḥ — the saintly devotees; anapekṣāḥ — not dependent on anything material; mat-cittāḥ — who have fixed their minds on Me; praśāntāḥ — completely peaceful; sama-darśinaḥ — endowed with equal vision; nirmamāḥ — free from possessiveness; nirahaṅkārāḥ — free from false ego; nirdvandvāḥ — free from all dualities; niṣparigrahāḥ — free from greed.

Translation

My devotees fix their minds on Me and do not depend upon anything material. They are always peaceful, endowed with equal vision, and free from possessiveness, false ego, duality and greed.

Devanagari

तेषु नित्यं महाभाग महाभागेषु मत्कथा: ।
सम्भवन्ति हि ता नृणां जुषतां प्रपुनन्त्यघम् ॥ २८ ॥

Text

teṣu nityaṁ mahā-bhāga
mahā-bhāgeṣu mat-kathāḥ
sambhavanti hi tā nṝṇāṁ
juṣatāṁ prapunanty agham

Synonyms

teṣu — among them; nityam — constantly; mahā-bhāga — O greatly fortunate Uddhava; mahā-bhāgeṣu — among these greatly fortunate devotees; mat-kathāḥ — discussions about Me; sambhavanti — arise; hi — indeed; tāḥ — these topics; nṝṇām — of persons; juṣatām — who are partaking in them; prapunanti — totally purify; agham — the sins.

Translation

O greatly fortunate Uddhava, in the association of such saintly devotees there is constant discussion of Me, and those partaking in this chanting and hearing of My glories are certainly purified of all sins.

Purport

Even if one does not receive direct instructions from a pure devotee, simply by hearing him glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead one can be purified of all sinful reactions caused by one’s involvement in illusion.

Devanagari

ता ये श‍ृण्वन्ति गायन्ति ह्यनुमोदन्ति चाद‍ृता: ।
मत्परा: श्रद्दधानाश्च भक्तिं विन्दन्ति ते मयि ॥ २९ ॥

Text

tā ye śṛṇvanti gāyanti
hy anumodanti cādṛtāḥ
mat-parāḥ śraddadhānāś ca
bhaktiṁ vindanti te mayi

Synonyms

tāḥ — those topics; ye — persons who; śṛṇvanti — hear; gāyanti — chant; hi — indeed; anumodanti — take to heart; ca — and; ādṛtāḥ — with respect; mat-parāḥ — dedicated to Me; śraddadhānāḥ — faithful; ca — and; bhaktim — devotional service; vindanti — achieve; te — they; mayi — for Me.

Translation

Whoever hears, chants and respectfully takes to heart these topics about Me becomes faithfully dedicated to Me and thus achieves My devotional service.

Purport

One who hears from advanced devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa can be saved from the ocean of material existence. When one obeys the order of a bona fide spiritual master, the polluted workings of the mind are checked, one sees things in a new, spiritual light, and there blossoms the propensity for selfless loving service to the Lord, which gives the fruit of love of Godhead.

Devanagari

भक्तिं लब्धवत: साधो: किमन्यदवशिष्यते ।
मय्यनन्तगुणे ब्रह्मण्यानन्दानुभवात्मनि ॥ ३० ॥

Text

bhaktiṁ labdhavataḥ sādhoḥ
kim anyad avaśiṣyate
mayy ananta-guṇe brahmaṇy
ānandānubhavātmani

Synonyms

bhaktim — devotional service to the Supreme Lord; labdhavataḥ — who has achieved; sādhoḥ — for the devotee; kim — what; anyat — else; avaśiṣyate — remains; mayi — to Me; ananta-guṇe — whose qualities are countless; brahmaṇi — to the Absolute Truth; ānanda — of ecstasy; anubhava — the experience; ātmani — who comprises.

Translation

What more remains to be accomplished for the perfect devotee after achieving devotional service unto Me, the Supreme Absolute Truth, whose qualities are innumerable and who am the embodiment of all ecstatic experience?

Purport

Devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa is so pleasing that a pure devotee cannot desire anything except service to the Lord. In the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Lord Kṛṣṇa told the gopīs that they would have to accept their own service as the ultimate reward of their devotion to Him, since nothing awards as much happiness and knowledge as devotional service itself. When one sincerely chants and hears the holy name and fame of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the heart is purified and gradually one can appreciate the actual, blissful nature of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, loving service to the Lord.

Devanagari

यथोपश्रयमाणस्य भगवन्तं विभावसुम् ।
शीतं भयं तमोऽप्येति साधून् संसेवतस्तथा ॥ ३१ ॥

Text

yathopaśrayamāṇasya
bhagavantaṁ vibhāvasum
śītaṁ bhayaṁ tamo ’pyeti
sādhūn saṁsevatas tathā

Synonyms

yathā — just as; upaśrayamāṇasya — of one who is approaching; bhagavantam — the powerful; vibhāvasum — fire; śītam — cold; bhayam — fear; tamaḥ — darkness; apyeti — are removed; sādhūn — saintly devotees; saṁsevataḥ — for one who is serving; tathā — similarly.

Translation

Just as cold, fear and darkness are eradicated for one who has approached the sacrificial fire, so dullness, fear and ignorance are destroyed for one engaged in serving the devotees of the Lord.

Purport

Those engaged in fruitive activities are certainly dull; they lack higher awareness of the Supreme Lord and the soul. Materialists are engaged more or less mechanically in gratifying their senses and ambitions, and thus they are considered dull or practically unconscious. All such dullness, fear and ignorance are removed when one serves the lotus feet of the Lord, just as cold, fear and darkness are removed when one approaches a fire.

Devanagari

निमज्ज्योन्मज्जतां घोरे भवाब्धौ परमायणम् ।
सन्तो ब्रह्मविद: शान्ता नौर्दृढेवाप्सु मज्जताम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Text

nimajjyonmajjatāṁ ghore
bhavābdhau paramāyaṇam
santo brahma-vidaḥ śāntā
naur dṛḍhevāpsu majjatām

Synonyms

nimajjya — of those who are submerging; unmajjatām — and rising again; ghore — in the horrible; bhava — of material life; abdhau — ocean; parama — supreme; ayanam — shelter; santaḥ — saintly devotees; brahma-vidaḥ — who understand the Absolute Truth; śāntāḥ — peaceful; nauḥ — a boat; dṛḍhā — strong; iva — just as; apsu — in the water; majjatām — for those who are drowning.

Translation

The devotees of the Lord, peacefully fixed in absolute knowledge, are the ultimate shelter for those who are repeatedly rising and falling within the fearful ocean of material life. Such devotees are just like a strong boat that comes to rescue persons who are at the point of drowning.

Devanagari

अन्नं हि प्राणिनां प्राण आर्तानां शरणं त्वहम् ।
धर्मो वित्तं नृणां प्रेत्य सन्तोऽर्वाग् बिभ्यतोऽरणम् ॥ ३३ ॥

Text

annaṁ hi prāṇināṁ prāṇa
ārtānāṁ śaraṇaṁ tv aham
dharmo vittaṁ nṛṇāṁ pretya
santo ’rvāg bibhyato ’raṇam

Synonyms

annam — food; hi — indeed; prāṇinām — of living entities; prāṇaḥ — the very life; ārtānām — of those who are distressed; śaraṇam — the shelter; tu — and; aham — I; dharmaḥ — religion; vittam — the wealth; nṛṇām — of men; pretya — when they have passed away from this world; santaḥ — the devotees; arvāk — of going downward; bibhyataḥ — for those who are fearful; araṇam — the refuge.

Translation

Just as food is the life of all creatures, just as I am the ultimate shelter for the distressed, and just as religion is the wealth of those who are passing away from this world, so My devotees are the only refuge of persons fearful of falling into a miserable condition of life.

Purport

Those fearful of being dragged down by material lust and anger should take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord’s devotees, who can engage one safely in the Lord’s loving service.

Devanagari

सन्तो दिशन्ति चक्षूंषि बहिरर्क: समुत्थित: ।
देवता बान्धवा: सन्त: सन्त आत्माहमेव च ॥ ३४ ॥

Text

santo diśanti cakṣūṁṣi
bahir arkaḥ samutthitaḥ
devatā bāndhavāḥ santaḥ
santa ātmāham eva ca

Synonyms

santaḥ — the devotees; diśanti — bestow; cakṣūṁṣi — eyes; bahiḥ — external; arkaḥ — the sun; samutthitaḥ — when it is fully risen; devatāḥ — worshipable deities; bāndhavāḥ — relatives; santaḥ — the devotees; santaḥ — the devotees; ātmā — one’s very soul; aham — Myself; eva ca — as well.

Translation

My devotees bestow divine eyes, whereas the sun allows only external sight, and that only when it is risen in the sky. My devotees are one’s real worshipable deities and real family; they are one’s own self, and ultimately they are nondifferent from Me.

Purport

Foolishness is the wealth of the impious, who place great value on their treasure and firmly make up their minds to remain in the darkness of ignorance. Saintly devotees of the Lord are just like the sun. By the light of their words, the living entities’ eyes of knowledge are opened and the darkness of ignorance is destroyed. Thus the saintly devotees are one’s real friends and relatives. They are the proper recipients of service — not the gross material body, which merely clamors for sense gratification.

Devanagari

वैतसेनस्ततोऽप्येवमुर्वश्या लोकनिष्पृह: ।
मुक्तसङ्गो महीमेतामात्मारामश्चचार ह ॥ ३५ ॥

Text

vaitasenas tato ’py evam
urvaśyā loka-niṣpṛhaḥ
mukta-saṅgo mahīm etām
ātmārāmaś cacāra ha

Synonyms

vaitasenaḥ — King Purūravā; tataḥ api — for that reason; evam — thus; urvaśyāḥ — of Urvaśī; loka — of being on the same planet; niṣpṛhaḥ — freed from the desire; mukta — liberated; saṅgaḥ — from all material association; mahīm — the earth; etām — this; ātma-ārāmaḥ — self-satisfied; cacāra — he traveled; ha — indeed.

Translation

Thus losing his desire to be on the same planet as Urvaśī, Mahārāja Purūravā began to wander the earth free of all material association and completely satisfied within the self.

Purport

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Eleventh Canto, Twenty-sixth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Aila-gītā.”