Shloka 38
Yoga-māyā Appears as Durgā; Kaṁsa’s Repentance and the Demonic Policy of Persecuting Vaiṣṇavas
यथामयोऽङ्गे समुपेक्षितो नृभि- र्न शक्यते रूढपदश्चिकित्सितुम् । यथेन्द्रियग्राम उपेक्षितस्तथा रिपुर्महान् बद्धबलो न चाल्यते ॥ ३८ ॥
yathāmayo ’ṅge samupekṣito nṛbhir na śakyate rūḍha-padaś cikitsitum yathendriya-grāma upekṣitas tathā ripur mahān baddha-balo na cālyate
Just as a disease, if neglected at first, takes root and becomes impossible to cure, and just as the senses, if not restrained early, cannot be controlled later—so an enemy, if ignored in the beginning, grows great, binds his strength, and becomes immovable.
FAQs
This verse warns that if the senses are left unchecked, their “enemy” (lust, anger, greed and related impulses) becomes entrenched—like an untreated disease—and then becomes very difficult to remove.
In the narrative surrounding Kaṁsa’s intensifying cruelty, Śukadeva highlights a general principle: when inner enemies and harmful tendencies are ignored, they gain strength and lead to grave consequences.
Address bad habits early—through discipline, sādhana (hearing/chanting), and mindful restraint—before they become “rooted” patterns that are harder to change.