Shloka 18
The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings
क्वचिद् गृहाश्रमकर्मचोदनातिभरगिरिमारुरुक्षमाणो लोकव्यसनकर्षितमना: कण्टकशर्कराक्षेत्रं प्रविशन्निव सीदति ॥ १८ ॥
kvacid gṛhāśrama-karma-codanāti-bhara-girim ārurukṣamāṇo loka-vyasana-karṣita-manāḥ kaṇṭaka-śarkarā-kṣetraṁ praviśann iva sīdati.
Mitunter wird die bedingte Seele durch die schwere Last der Pflichten des gṛhastha—yajñas und fruchtbringende Handlungen—gleichsam gezwungen, einen großen Berg zu erklimmen; vom Weltgenuss fortgerissen, leidet sie wie einer, der in ein Feld voller Dornen und Kiesel tritt.
There are many social functions for keeping a prestigious position in society. In different countries and societies there are various festivals and rituals. In India, the father is supposed to get his children married. When he does so, his responsibility to the family is complete. Arranging marriages is very difficult, especially in these days. At the present moment no one can perform the proper ritual of sacrifice, nor can anyone afford to pay for the marriage ceremony of sons and daughters. Therefore householders are very much distressed when they are confronted by these social duties. It is as though they were pierced by thorns and hurt by pebbles. Material attachment is so strong that despite the suffering, one cannot give it up. Prahlāda Mahārāja therefore recommends ( Bhāg. 7.5.5 ):
FAQs
This verse depicts household-driven fruitive duties as a mountain-like weight that drags the mind into worldly distress, like entering a thorny, stony field.
He is using allegory to show that worldly pursuits injure and exhaust the conditioned soul—small desires and obligations repeatedly cause pain and obstruction on the path to peace.
Reduce fruitive obsession and re-center duties as service to Bhagavān—simplify desires, cultivate sādhana, and prioritize bhakti so responsibilities don’t become crushing burdens.