Shloka 13
Yayāti’s Renunciation: The Allegory of the He-Goat and She-Goat
यत् पृथिव्यां व्रीहियवं हिरण्यं पशव: स्त्रिय: । न दुह्यन्ति मन:प्रीतिं पुंस: कामहतस्य ते ॥ १३ ॥
yat pṛthivyāṁ vrīhi-yavaṁ hiraṇyaṁ paśavaḥ striyaḥ na duhyanti manaḥ-prītiṁ puṁsaḥ kāma-hatasya te
Selbst wenn jemand auf Erden Reis und Gerste, Gold, Vieh und Frauen besitzt, wird der Geist dessen, den die Begierde getroffen hat, nicht satt; nichts kann ihn zufriedenstellen.
Improvement of one’s economic condition is the aim and object of a materialist, but there is no end to this material advancement, for if one cannot control his lusty desires, he will never be pleased, even if he gets all the material wealth of the world. In this age we see much material improvement, but still people are struggling to get more and more material opulence. Manaḥ ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati . Although every living entity is a part of the Supreme Being, because of lusty desires one continuously struggles for so-called betterment of one’s economic condition. To have a satisfied mind, one must give up his heart disease of lusty desires. This can be done only when one is Kṛṣṇa conscious.
FAQs
This verse teaches that when a person is overpowered by lust, even wealth, food grains, possessions, and relationships cannot give real mental satisfaction—desire keeps the mind perpetually unsated.
In the context of Purūravā’s intense attachment and longing, Śukadeva Gosvāmī highlights the nature of kāma: it promises happiness but prevents lasting contentment, pushing one toward repeated craving.
Use it as a reminder to check compulsive desire—practice restraint, shift attention from consumption to inner discipline and devotion, and seek steady happiness through dharma and bhakti rather than chasing the next gratification.