Shloka 38
यथामयोऽङ्गे समुपेक्षितो नृभि- र्न शक्यते रूढपदश्चिकित्सितुम् । यथेन्द्रियग्राम उपेक्षितस्तथा रिपुर्महान् बद्धबलो न चाल्यते ॥ ३८ ॥
yathāmayo ’ṅge samupekṣito nṛbhir na śakyate rūḍha-padaś cikitsitum yathendriya-grāma upekṣitas tathā ripur mahān baddha-balo na cālyate
Seperti penyakit dalam tubuh yang bila mula-mula diabaikan akan mengakar dan menjadi sukar disembuhkan, dan seperti indera yang bila sejak awal tak dikendalikan kelak tak dapat ditundukkan—demikian pula musuh yang diabaikan pada awalnya akan menjadi besar, kuat, dan tak tergoyahkan.
FAQs
This verse warns that if the senses are left unchecked, their “enemy” (lust, anger, greed and related impulses) becomes entrenched—like an untreated disease—and then becomes very difficult to remove.
In the narrative surrounding Kaṁsa’s intensifying cruelty, Śukadeva highlights a general principle: when inner enemies and harmful tendencies are ignored, they gain strength and lead to grave consequences.
Address bad habits early—through discipline, sādhana (hearing/chanting), and mindful restraint—before they become “rooted” patterns that are harder to change.