Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 14
Avadhūta’s Teachers: Python, Ocean, Moth, Bee, Elephant, Deer, Fish—and Piṅgalā’s Song of Detachment
नाधिगच्छेत् स्त्रियं प्राज्ञ: कर्हिचिन्मृत्युमात्मन: । बलाधिकै: स हन्येत गजैरन्यैर्गजो यथा ॥ १४ ॥
nādhigacchet striyaṁ prājñaḥ karhicin mṛtyum ātmanaḥ balādhikaiḥ sa hanyeta gajair anyair gajo yathā
L’homme doué de discernement ne doit en aucune circonstance chercher à jouir de la beauté d’une femme pour la satisfaction des sens. De même que l’éléphant voulant s’approcher d’une éléphante est tué par d’autres mâles plus puissants, ainsi celui qui recherche la compagnie d’une femme peut à tout moment être tué par ses autres amants, plus forts que lui.
Just as one is enchanted by the beautiful form of a woman, many other men will also be enchanted, and there is danger that they will be stronger than oneself and may even jealously kill one. Crimes of passion are extremely common. This is another disadvantage of material life.
FAQs
This verse warns that pursuing sense pleasure—especially lust—leads to spiritual ruin, comparing it to an elephant being destroyed by stronger elephants.
Yadu asked the Avadhūta how he remained peaceful and spiritually strong; the Avadhūta replied with practical cautions about sense entanglement as a major cause of downfall.
Practice restraint, avoid situations that inflame lust, and cultivate higher taste through devotion, right association, and disciplined living.