Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 15
The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings
क्वचिदासाद्य गृहं दाववत्प्रियार्थविधुरमसुखोदर्कं शोकाग्निना दह्यमानो भृशं निर्वेदमुपगच्छति ॥ १५ ॥
kvacid āsādya gṛhaṁ dāvavat priyārtha-vidhuram asukhodarkaṁ śokāgninā dahyamāno bhṛśaṁ nirvedam upagacchati.
ときに彼は家庭生活を森の大火のように味わう。そこには愛すべき幸福が少しもなく、やがて不幸が増すばかりである。嘆きの火に焼かれて深い厭離に至る。家住みの生活には永遠の幸福にかなうものは何もない。そこに絡め取られ、あるときは自分を不運だと責め、またあるときは前世で善行を積まなかったからだと思い込む。
In the Gurv-aṣṭaka, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has sung:
FAQs
This verse explains that material home life can burn like a forest fire—when one is separated from what is dear and when the inevitable outcome is misery—leading to grief and eventual disillusionment.
Because attachment in family life can suddenly intensify into suffering through loss, separation, and anxiety—burning the heart with lamentation—just as a forest fire consumes everything without warning.
Recognize that happiness based solely on changing relationships and possessions is unstable; cultivate devotion and spiritual practice so that inevitable losses do not consume the mind with grief, and let disillusionment mature into healthy detachment.