Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 40
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
Риши Саубхари, погружённый в воды Ямуны и предающийся аскезе, увидел пару рыб, предающихся соитию. Узрев наслаждение чувственной жизни, он воспылал желанием и отправился к царю Мандхате просить одну из его дочерей. Царь ответил: «О брахман, на сваямваре мои дочери сами выберут себе мужа по своему желанию»
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 a powerful ascetic can become disturbed when exposed to sense-objects; therefore tapasya must be supported by vigilance, purity, and higher spiritual absorption.
After witnessing the fish king’s mating pleasure, desire awakened in him, and he sought to fulfill it by requesting a girl from the king, illustrating how association and sight can trigger latent impressions.
Guard the senses, avoid provocative stimuli, and redirect the mind to bhakti practices (nāma-japa, śravaṇa, and sādhusanga) so that desire is transformed rather than merely suppressed.