Shloka 17
Paramahaṁsa-Dharma: The Avadhūta-like Sannyāsī and Prahlāda’s Dialogue with the ‘Python’ Saint
बिभर्षि कायं पीवानं सोद्यमो भोगवान्यथा ॥ १६ ॥ वित्तं चैवोद्यमवतां भोगो वित्तवतामिह । भोगिनां खलु देहोऽयं पीवा भवति नान्यथा ॥ १७ ॥
bibharṣi kāyaṁ pīvānaṁ sodyamo bhogavān yathā
Votre corps est fort et bien gras, tel celui d’un jouisseur, bien que vous ne fassiez aucun effort pour subsister. En ce monde, l’homme laborieux acquiert la richesse, le riche goûte aux plaisirs; et celui qui s’adonne aux plaisirs devient gras à force de manger et dormir sans agir.
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura did not like his disciples to become very fat in the course of time. He would become very anxious upon seeing his fat disciples becoming bhogīs, or enjoyers of the senses. This attitude is herewith confirmed by Prahlāda Mahārāja, who was surprised to see a saintly person adopting ājagara-vṛtti and becoming very fat. In the material world also, we generally see that when a man who is poor and skinny gradually endeavors to earn money through business or some other means and he then gets the money, he enjoys the senses to his satisfaction. By enjoying the senses one becomes fat. Therefore in spiritual advancement becoming fat is not at all satisfactory.
FAQs
This verse warns that merely maintaining a strong body through strenuous effort can mirror the life of a sense-enjoyer if it is not directed toward spiritual realization and devotion.
While instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on varṇāśrama and the goal of life, Nārada highlights that effort without higher purpose can become indistinguishable from material enjoyment.
Work and care for health, but regularly examine the motive—align effort with dharma, self-control, and bhakti rather than status, indulgence, or mere bodily comfort.