Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 39
Ikṣvāku Dynasty: Vikukṣi’s Offense, Purañjaya’s Victory, Māndhātā’s Birth, and Saubhari’s Fall and Renunciation
यमुनान्तर्जले मग्नस्तप्यमान: परन्तप: । निर्वृतिं मीनराजस्य दृष्ट्वा मैथुनधर्मिण: ॥ ३९ ॥ जातस्पृहो नृपं विप्र: कन्यामेकामयाचत । सोऽप्याह गृह्यतां ब्रह्मन् कामं कन्या स्वयंवरे ॥ ४० ॥
yamunāntar-jale magnas tapyamānaḥ paraṁ tapaḥ nirvṛtiṁ mīna-rājasya dṛṣṭvā maithuna-dharmiṇaḥ
Saubhari Ṛṣi, sang penakluk musuh, bertapa tenggelam di dalam air Yamunā. Ketika melihat sepasang ikan yang sedang bersetubuh dan menikmati kenikmatannya, hasrat pun bangkit dalam dirinya. Ia lalu memohon kepada Raja Māndhātā seorang putri. Raja menjawab, “Wahai brāhmaṇa, biarlah putri-putriku memilih suami menurut kehendaknya dalam svayaṃvara.”
This is the beginning of the story of Saubhari Ṛṣi. According to Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, Māndhātā was the king of Mathurā, and Saubhari Ṛṣi was engaged in austerity while submerged deep within the river Yamunā. When the ṛṣi felt sexual desire, he emerged from the water and went to King Māndhātā to ask that one of the King’s daughters become his wife.
FAQs
This verse shows that even in tapasya, seeing sense enjoyment (here, the fish’s mating) can agitate the mind, so vigilance and higher absorption are required.
The fish’s pleasure is used as a vivid example of how observing sexual enjoyment can awaken latent desire, even in a practicing ascetic.
Limit provocative sights, redirect attention to sādhana (japa, śravaṇa), and cultivate higher taste through devotion so the mind doesn’t chase lower pleasure.