Shloka 38
Brahmā’s Discourse to Mohinī
Harivāsara, Desire, and the Satya-Test of Rukmāṅgada
सन्मार्गे तावदास्ते प्रभवति पुरुषस्तावदेवेंद्रियाणां लज्जां तावद्विधत्ते विनयमपि समालंबते तावदेव । भ्रूचापाक्षेपयुक्ताः श्रवणपथगता नीलपक्ष्माण एते यावल्लीलावतीनां न हृदि धृतिमुषो दृष्टिबाणाः पतंति ॥ ३८ ॥
sanmārge tāvadāste prabhavati puruṣastāvadeveṃdriyāṇāṃ lajjāṃ tāvadvidhatte vinayamapi samālaṃbate tāvadeva | bhrūcāpākṣepayuktāḥ śravaṇapathagatā nīlapakṣmāṇa ete yāvallīlāvatīnāṃ na hṛdi dhṛtimuṣo dṛṣṭibāṇāḥ pataṃti || 38 ||
So long does a man remain established on the righteous path; so long do his senses stay under his command; so long do modesty and self-restraint arise in him—only until the glance-arrows of playful women, tipped with the bow of the eyebrow and carried on the road of the ear, their lashes dark-blue, fall upon his heart and steal away his steadiness.
Narada (instructional narration within Uttara-Bhaga context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It teaches that dharma and inner steadiness depend on mastery of the senses; unchecked attraction can quickly destabilize even a disciplined person, so vigilance and restraint are essential supports for spiritual life.
Bhakti requires a stable heart (dhṛti) focused on the Lord; the verse warns that sensory fascination disperses attention and weakens resolve, so guarding the mind and senses protects devotional concentration and purity.
While not a direct Vedāṅga lesson, it reflects the practical dharmic discipline that underlies ritual efficacy—self-restraint and mental steadiness are implied prerequisites for correct conduct in vrata, pūjā, and tīrtha observances.