Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 8
Yayāti’s Renunciation: The Allegory of the He-Goat and She-Goat
तं दुर्हृदं सुहृद्रूपं कामिनं क्षणसौहृदम् । इन्द्रियाराममुत्सृज्य स्वामिनं दु:खिता ययौ ॥ ८ ॥
taṁ durhṛdaṁ suhṛd-rūpaṁ kāminaṁ kṣaṇa-sauhṛdam indriyārāmam utsṛjya svāminaṁ duḥkhitā yayau
Aggrieved by her husband’s behavior with another, the she-goat thought that the he-goat was not actually her friend but was hardhearted and was her friend only for the time being. Therefore, because her husband was lusty, she left him and returned to her former maintainer.
The word svāminam is significant. Svāmī means “caretaker” or “master.” Devayānī was cared for by Śukrācārya before her marriage, and after her marriage she was cared for by Yayāti, but here the word svāminam indicates that Devayānī left the protection of her husband, Yayāti, and returned to her former protector, Śukrācārya. Vedic civilization recommends that a woman stay under the protection of a man. During childhood she should be cared for by her father, in youth by her husband, and in old age by a grown son. In any stage of life, a woman should not have independence.
FAQs
This verse describes a lust-driven person as a hidden enemy who appears friendly, with affection that lasts only a moment, because the heart is centered on sense enjoyment rather than genuine care.
In the narrative, their union is shown to be unstable and driven by conditions; here she recognizes the relationship as rooted in fleeting desire and sense pleasure and thus departs in distress.
It advises discernment in relationships: avoid bonds based mainly on lust and gratification, and seek steadiness, character, and dharmic commitment rather than momentary attraction.