Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 13
Purūravā’s Song of Renunciation and the Glory of Sādhu-saṅga
स्वार्थस्याकोविदं धिङ् मां मूर्खं पण्डितमानिनम् । योऽहमीश्वरतां प्राप्य स्त्रीभिर्गोखरवज्जित: ॥ १३ ॥
svārthasyākovidaṁ dhiṅ māṁ mūrkhaṁ paṇḍita-māninam yo ’ham īśvaratāṁ prāpya strībhir go-khara-vaj jitaḥ
Malheur à moi ! Insensé, je ne savais pas mon propre bien et je me croyais savant. Bien que j’aie obtenu un rang de seigneur, je me suis laissé vaincre par des femmes comme un bœuf ou un âne.
All the fools of this world consider themselves very wise scholars even though, intoxicated by sense gratification and maddened by their lust for women’s association, they become just like bullocks and jackasses. By the mercy of a saintly spiritual master, this lusty propensity can gradually be removed and one can understand the terrible, contemptible nature of material sense gratification. In this verse King Purūravā is coming to his senses in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
FAQs
This verse shows that even a powerful person can be defeated by sensual attachment; true intelligence is to know one’s real self-interest—devotion and self-mastery—rather than being driven by desire.
Because his worldly status and intellectual pride did not protect him from being controlled by passion; he realizes that scholarship without inner discipline and devotion becomes mere vanity.
Use it as a reminder to replace ego and impulse-driven choices with conscious restraint—seek higher purpose (bhakti, dharma, and self-control) rather than letting attraction dictate behavior.