Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 32
The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings
क्वचिद् द्रुमवदैहिकार्थेषु गृहेषु रंस्यन् यथा वानर: सुतदारवत्सलो व्यवायक्षण: ॥ ३२ ॥
kvacid drumavad aihikārtheṣu gṛheṣu raṁsyan yathā vānaraḥ suta-dāra-vatsalo vyavāya-kṣaṇaḥ.
Kadang-kadang jiwa berseronok dalam rumah-rumah demi kepentingan jasmani seperti monyet yang melompat dari satu pokok ke pokok lain; terlalu menyayangi anak dan isteri hingga menjadi hamba kenikmatan seks yang seketika. Seperti monyet yang akhirnya ditangkap pemburu, demikianlah jiwa terikat, terpukau oleh nikmat nafsu sesaat, melompat dari satu tubuh ke tubuh lain, terkurung dalam penjara kehidupan keluarga, dan tidak mampu melepaskan diri daripada belenggu material.
As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.9.29) : viṣayaḥ khalu sarvataḥ syāt. Bodily necessities — eating, sleeping, mating and defending — are all very easily available in any form of life. It is stated here that the vānara (monkey) is very much attracted to sex. Each monkey keeps at least two dozen wives, and he jumps from one tree to another to capture the female monkeys. Thus he immediately engages in sexual intercourse. In this way the monkey’s business is to jump from one tree to another and enjoy sex with his wives. The conditioned soul is doing the same thing, transmigrating from one body to another and engaging in sex. He thus completely forgets how to become free from the clutches of material encagement. Sometimes the monkey is captured by a hunter, who sells its body to doctors so that its glands can be removed for the benefit of another monkey. All this is going on in the name of economic development and improved sex life.
FAQs
This verse criticizes blind household attachment that centers on temporary worldly goals and momentary sense pleasure, urging detachment and higher spiritual purpose.
The monkey analogy highlights restless enjoyment, strong sexual impulse, and possessive attachment—showing how one becomes trapped in fleeting pleasures instead of seeking liberation.
Shift the home’s purpose from enjoyment to service—practice regulated life, reduce lust-driven habits, cultivate devotion (śravaṇa-kīrtana), and see family duties as offerings to Bhagavān.