Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 4
The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings
यथा ह्यनुवत्सरं कृष्यमाणमप्यदग्धबीजं क्षेत्रं पुनरेवावपनकाले गुल्मतृणवीरुद्भिर्गह्वरमिव भवत्येवमेव गृहाश्रम: कर्मक्षेत्रं यस्मिन्न हि कर्माण्युत्सीदन्ति यदयं कामकरण्ड एष आवसथ: ॥ ४ ॥
yathā hy anuvatsaraṁ kṛṣyamāṇam apy adagdha-bījaṁ kṣetraṁ punar evāvapana-kāle gulma-tṛṇa-vīrudbhir gahvaram iva bhavaty evam eva gṛhāśramaḥ karma-kṣetraṁ yasmin na hi karmāṇy utsīdanti yad ayaṁ kāma-karaṇḍa eṣa āvasathaḥ.
De même qu’un champ, labouré chaque année et débarrassé des mauvaises herbes, voit pourtant repousser broussailles et herbes si les graines n’ont pas été entièrement brûlées, ainsi l’āśrama du maître de maison est un champ de karma. Tant que la semence du désir de jouir n’est pas consumée, les actes intéressés ne s’éteignent pas; comme un vase qui, même sans camphre, en garde le parfum.
Unless one’s desires are completely transferred to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the desire for family life continues, even after one has taken sannyāsa. Sometimes in our society, ISKCON, a person out of sentiment may take sannyāsa, but because his desires are not burned completely, he again takes to family life, even at the risk of losing his prestige and disgracing his good name. These strong desires can be burned out completely when one fully engages in the service of the Lord in devotional service.
FAQs
This verse compares gṛhastha-āśrama to a field of karma: unless the ‘seeds’ of desire are destroyed, work and its entanglements keep growing again and again.
He highlights that domestic life can easily collect and nourish many wants—comfort, prestige, possessions—so karma does not naturally cease unless one practices deliberate detachment and devotion.
Reduce unnecessary wants, simplify habits, and center family duties around bhakti—so responsibilities don’t become endless fuel for desire and repeated anxiety.