Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 33
Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti
Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties
स्त्रीणां निरीक्षणस्पर्शसंलापक्ष्वेलनादिकम् । प्राणिनो मिथुनीभूतानगृहस्थोऽग्रतस्त्यजेत् ॥ ३३ ॥
strīṇāṁ nirīkṣaṇa-sparśa- saṁlāpa-kṣvelanādikam prāṇino mithunī-bhūtān agṛhastho ’gratas tyajet
Ceux qui ne sont pas mariés—sannyāsīs, vānaprasthas et brahmacārīs—ne doivent jamais fréquenter les femmes par le regard, le toucher, la conversation, la plaisanterie ou le jeu; ni fréquenter quelque être vivant engagé dans l’activité sexuelle.
Prāṇinaḥ indicates all living entities, whether birds, bees or human beings. Among most species of life, sexual intercourse is preceded by diverse mating rituals. In human society, all types of entertainment (books, music, films) and all places of amusement (restaurants, shopping centers, resorts) are designed to stimulate the sexual urge and create an aura of “romance.” One who is not married — a sannyāsī, brahmacārī or vānaprastha — should rigidly avoid anything related to sex and of course should never see any living entity, whether bird, insect or human, engaging in the various phases of sexual intercourse. When a man jokes with a woman, an intimate, sexually charged atmosphere is immediately created, and this should also be avoided for those aspiring to practice celibacy. Even a householder who becomes attached to such activities will also fall down into the darkness of ignorance.
FAQs
In this verse, Kṛṣṇa teaches that non-householders should avoid stimuli that inflame sexual desire—such as gazing, touching, intimate talk, and playful flirting—and also avoid association with those absorbed in conjugal pairing.
During the Uddhava Gītā, Kṛṣṇa summarizes practical varṇāśrama-dharma for spiritual progress; here He emphasizes sense-restraint and careful association as essential disciplines for those pursuing renunciation and steady bhakti.
Set clear boundaries in media and relationships, avoid flirtatious or intimate situations that weaken vows, choose uplifting company, and redirect the mind through sādhana—japa, kīrtana, and service—so attraction is purified into devotion.