Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 6
Yayāti’s Renunciation: The Allegory of the He-Goat and She-Goat
सोत्तीर्य कूपात् सुश्रोणी तमेव चकमे किल । तया वृतं समुद्वीक्ष्य बह्व्योऽजा: कान्तकामिनी: ॥ ५ ॥ पीवानं श्मश्रुलं प्रेष्ठं मीढ्वांसं याभकोविदम् । स एकोऽजवृषस्तासां बह्वीनां रतिवर्धन: । रेमे कामग्रहग्रस्त आत्मानं नावबुध्यत ॥ ६ ॥
sottīrya kūpāt suśroṇī tam eva cakame kila tayā vṛtaṁ samudvīkṣya bahvyo ’jāḥ kānta-kāminīḥ
Als die Ziege mit den schönen Hüften aus dem Brunnen kam, begehrte sie den Ziegenbock. Als andere Ziegen dies sahen, begehrten sie ihn ebenfalls wegen seiner Kraft und Liebeskunst. Wie ein von einem Geist Besessener verlor sich der Bock in der Lust und vergaß sein wahres Selbst.
Materialists are certainly very much attracted by sexual intercourse. Yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tuccham . Although one becomes a gṛhastha, or householder, to enjoy sex life to his heart’s content, one is never satisfied. Such a lusty materialist is like a goat, for it is said that if goats meant for slaughter get the opportunity, they enjoy sex before being killed. Human beings, however, are meant for self-realization.
FAQs
It shows that when one is seized by lust, one becomes absorbed in enjoyment and forgets the true self (ātman), losing spiritual discrimination.
It is an allegory to illustrate how a conditioned soul, once freed from one distress, can become trapped again by sensual attraction and social entanglement, forgetting higher purpose.
Recognize how pleasure-seeking can cloud judgment; cultivate self-awareness, restraint, and devotion (bhakti) so desires do not replace one’s real goals and identity.