Shloka 28
Diti’s Untimely Desire and the Birth-Cause of the Asura Line
Prelude to Hiranyākṣa–Varāha
हसन्ति यस्याचरितं हि दुर्भगा: स्वात्मन्-रतस्याविदुष: समीहितम् । यैर्वस्त्रमाल्याभरणानुलेपनै: श्वभोजनं स्वात्मतयोपलालितम् ॥ २८ ॥
hasanti yasyācaritaṁ hi durbhagāḥ svātman-ratasyāviduṣaḥ samīhitam yair vastra-mālyābharaṇānulepanaiḥ śva-bhojanaṁ svātmatayopalālitam
যিনি আত্মস্বরূপে রত, তাঁর আচরণ না জেনে দুর্ভাগা মূর্খেরা তাঁকে উপহাস করে। তারা কুকুরের ভক্ষণযোগ্য এই দেহকে বস্ত্র, মালা, অলংকার ও লেপনে ‘আমি’ জেনে লালন করে।
Lord Śiva never accepts any luxurious dress, garland, ornament or ointment. But those who are addicted to the decoration of the body, which is finally eatable by dogs, very luxuriously maintain it as the self. Such persons do not understand Lord Śiva, but they approach him for luxurious material comforts. There are two kinds of devotees of Lord Śiva. One class is the gross materialist seeking only bodily comforts from Lord Śiva, and the other class desires to become one with him. They are mostly impersonalists and prefer to chant śivo ’ham, “I am Śiva,” or “After liberation I shall become one with Lord Śiva.” In other words, the karmīs and jñānīs are generally devotees of Lord Śiva, but they do not properly understand his real purpose in life. Sometimes so-called devotees of Lord Śiva imitate him in using poisonous intoxicants. Lord Śiva once swallowed an ocean of poison, and thus his throat became blue. The imitation Śivas try to follow him by indulging in poisons, and thus they are ruined. The real purpose of Lord Śiva is to serve the Soul of the soul, Lord Kṛṣṇa. He desires that all luxurious articles, such as nice garments, garlands, ornaments and cosmetics, be given to Lord Kṛṣṇa only, because Kṛṣṇa is the real enjoyer. He refuses to accept such luxurious items himself because they are only meant for Kṛṣṇa. However, since they do not know this purpose of Lord Śiva, foolish persons either laugh at him or profitlessly try to imitate him.
FAQs
This verse says the ignorant and unfortunate ridicule a self-realized person’s conduct, while they themselves cling to bodily pleasures and treat a degraded material life as their very identity.
Kapila instructs Devahuti in sāṅkhya and bhakti by contrasting self-absorption in the ātmā with bodily identification, showing how external refinement can mask inner degradation and ignorance.
Don’t measure success by external polish; prioritize inner discipline, self-knowledge, and devotion, and avoid lifestyles that dull conscience while being socially celebrated.