Shloka 44
Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation
रागो द्वेषश्च लोभश्च शोकमोहौ भयं मद: । मानोऽवमानोऽसूया च माया हिंसा च मत्सर: ॥ ४३ ॥ रज: प्रमाद: क्षुन्निद्रा शत्रवस्त्वेवमादय: । रजस्तम:प्रकृतय: सत्त्वप्रकृतय: क्वचित् ॥ ४४ ॥ H
rāgo dveṣaś ca lobhaś ca śoka-mohau bhayaṁ madaḥ māno ’vamāno ’sūyā ca māyā hiṁsā ca matsaraḥ
Dans l’état conditionné, les conceptions de la vie sont parfois souillées par rajas et tamas, se manifestant comme attachement, hostilité, avidité, lamentation, illusion, peur, folie, faux prestige, affront, esprit de critique, tromperie, envie, violence, intolérance, égarement, faim et sommeil. Tout cela est ennemi; parfois même la bonté (sattva) peut aussi souiller la conception.
The actual aim of life is to go back home, back to Godhead, but there are many hindrances created by the three modes of material nature — sometimes by a combination of rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa, the modes of passion and ignorance, and sometimes by the mode of goodness. In the material world, even if one is a philanthropist, a nationalist and a good man according to materialistic estimations, these conceptions of life form a hindrance to spiritual advancement. How much more of a hindrance, then, are hostility, greed, illusion, lamentation and too much attachment to material enjoyment? To progress toward the target of Viṣṇu, which is our real self-interest, one must become very powerful in conquering these various hindrances or enemies. In other words, one should not be attached to being a good man or a bad man in this material world.
FAQs
This verse lists passion, negligence (pramāda), hunger, and excessive sleep as enemies, arising mainly from rajas and tamas, which obstruct steady devotional practice.
In his instructions on civilized, spiritual living, Prahlāda explains that uncontrolled bodily demands like hunger and sleep can overpower discipline and remembrance of the Lord, thereby weakening bhakti.
Maintain regulated habits (food, sleep, work), avoid negligence through mindful routine, and cultivate sāttvika practices—such as japa, śravaṇa, and clean living—so rajas and tamas do not dominate.