Shloka 14
The Deliverance of Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva
Yamala-Arjuna Līlā Prelude and Culmination
यथा कण्टकविद्धाङ्गो जन्तोर्नेच्छति तां व्यथाम् । जीवसाम्यं गतो लिङ्गैर्न तथाविद्धकण्टक: ॥ १४ ॥
yathā kaṇṭaka-viddhāṅgo jantor necchati tāṁ vyathām jīva-sāmyaṁ gato liṅgair na tathāviddha-kaṇṭakaḥ
Just as one whose body has been pricked by thorns can read the pain of others from their faces, and knowing that such pain is the same for all, he does not wish anyone else to suffer it—so too, one who has never been pricked cannot understand that pain.
There is a saying, “The happiness of wealth is enjoyable by a person who has tasted the distress of poverty.” There is also another common saying, vandhyā ki bujhibe prasava-vedanā: “A woman who has not given birth to a child cannot understand the pain of childbirth.” Unless one comes to the platform of actual experience, one cannot realize what is pain and what is happiness in this material world. The laws of nature act accordingly. If one has killed an animal, one must himself be killed by that same animal. This is called māṁsa. Mām means “me,” and sa means “he.” As I am eating an animal, that animal will have the opportunity to eat me. In every state, therefore, it is ordinarily the custom that if a person commits murder he is hanged.
FAQs
This verse teaches that one who truly understands the shared condition of all souls naturally becomes compassionate and does not wish suffering upon others, having recognized pain as universally undesirable.
The thorn illustrates direct experience of pain; similarly, spiritual maturity means recognizing others’ suffering as one’s own concern, leading to non-cruelty and mercy.
Practice empathy before speaking or acting—avoid causing harm, cultivate kindness in daily dealings, and let devotion to Krishna expand your concern beyond yourself to all beings.