Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 5
Yayāti’s Renunciation: The Allegory of the He-Goat and She-Goat
सोत्तीर्य कूपात् सुश्रोणी तमेव चकमे किल । तया वृतं समुद्वीक्ष्य बह्व्योऽजा: कान्तकामिनी: ॥ ५ ॥ पीवानं श्मश्रुलं प्रेष्ठं मीढ्वांसं याभकोविदम् । स एकोऽजवृषस्तासां बह्वीनां रतिवर्धन: । रेमे कामग्रहग्रस्त आत्मानं नावबुध्यत ॥ ६ ॥
sottīrya kūpāt suśroṇī tam eva cakame kila tayā vṛtaṁ samudvīkṣya bahvyo ’jāḥ kānta-kāminīḥ
Setelah keluar dari sumur, kambing betina yang berpinggul indah itu ingin menjadikan kambing jantan itu sebagai suaminya. Ketika ia memilihnya, banyak kambing betina lain yang cantik pun menginginkannya, sebab ia bertubuh gagah, bermisai dan berjanggut elok, memikat, kuat benihnya, dan mahir dalam seni persetubuhan. Maka sang kambing jantan terbaik, dikelilingi banyak betina, larut dalam asmara karena direngkuh hantu nafsu, hingga lupa akan tugas sejatinya: kesadaran diri.
Materialists are certainly very much attracted by sexual intercourse. Yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tuccham . Although one becomes a gṛhastha, or householder, to enjoy sex life to his heart’s content, one is never satisfied. Such a lusty materialist is like a goat, for it is said that if goats meant for slaughter get the opportunity, they enjoy sex before being killed. Human beings, however, are meant for self-realization.
FAQs
This verse shows how attraction spreads when one is seen as an object of enjoyment—association and attention can multiply desire rather than satisfy it.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this account to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while teaching the bondage created by kāma (lust).
Guard the senses and avoid situations that inflame craving; redirect attention to sādhana and higher goals so attraction does not escalate into addiction.