Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 38
The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings
एतस्मिन् संसाराध्वनि नानाक्लेशोपसर्गबाधित आपन्नविपन्नो यत्र यस्तमु ह वावेतरस्तत्र विसृज्य जातं जातमुपादाय शोचन्मुह्यन् बिभ्यद्विवदन् क्रदन् संहृष्यन्गायन्नह्यमान: साधुवर्जितो नैवावर्ततेऽद्यापि यत आरब्ध एष नरलोकसार्थो यमध्वन: पारमुपदिशन्ति ॥ ३८ ॥
etasmin saṁsārādhvani nānā-kleśopasarga-bādhita āpanna-vipanno yatra yas tam u ha vāvetaras tatra visṛjya jātaṁ jātam upādāya śocan muhyan bibhyad-vivadan krandan saṁhṛṣyan gāyan nahyamānaḥ sādhu-varjito naivāvartate ’dyāpi yata ārabdha eṣa nara-loka-sārtho yam adhvanaḥ pāram upadiśanti.
Este camino del samsara está colmado de miserias y peligros. El alma condicionada a veces gana y a veces pierde; a veces se separa del padre por la muerte u otras causas y, dejándolo atrás, se apega a otros como los hijos. Enredada en pena, ilusión, temor, llanto, disputa y, a ratos, en júbilo y canto, olvida la separación sin comienzo del Bhagavān y recorre una senda ardua como la de Yama, sin dicha verdadera. Los autorrealizados se refugian en el Señor y sólo por la vía de la bhakti salen de este cautiverio; sin devoción no hay liberación—la conciencia de Kṛṣṇa es el remedio.
By thoroughly analyzing the materialistic way of life, any sane man can understand that there is not the least happiness in this world. However, due to continuing on the path of danger from time immemorial and not associating with saintly persons, the conditioned soul, under illusion, wants to enjoy this material world. Material energy sometimes gives him a chance at so-called happiness, but the conditioned soul is perpetually being punished by material nature. It is therefore said: daṇḍya-jane rājā yena nadīte cubāya ( Cc. Madhya 20.118). Materialistic life means continuous unhappiness, but sometimes we accept happiness as it appears between the gaps. Sometimes a condemned person is submerged in water and hauled out. Actually all of this is meant for punishment, but he feels a little comfort when he is taken out of the water. This is the situation with the conditioned soul. All the śāstras therefore advise that one associate with devotees and saintly people.
FAQs
This verse describes the conditioned soul on the road of saṁsāra as repeatedly shifting between prosperity and ruin, reacting with lamentation, fear, quarrel, and fleeting joy—yet remaining bound and driven onward.
Because without saintly association the soul “does not turn back” from the destructive course of material attachment; sādhu-saṅga provides the guidance to cross beyond the path leading to Yama (death and punishment).
Notice the cycle of emotional reactions to gain and loss, and deliberately seek sādhu-saṅga—devotional hearing, chanting, and guidance—so your choices turn from compulsive worldly pursuit toward liberation and bhakti.