Shloka 12
Yayāti’s Renunciation: The Allegory of the He-Goat and She-Goat
तथाहं कृपण: सुभ्रु भवत्या: प्रेमयन्त्रित: । आत्मानं नाभिजानामि मोहितस्तव मायया ॥ १२ ॥
tathāhaṁ kṛpaṇaḥ subhru bhavatyāḥ prema-yantritaḥ ātmānaṁ nābhijānāmi mohitas tava māyayā
โอ นางผู้มีคิ้วงาม ข้าก็เป็นเช่นแพะตัวผู้นั้น—ยากจนปัญญา ถูกพันธนาการด้วยความรักของเจ้า; ถูกมายาของเจ้าลวงให้หลง จนไม่รู้จักตนแท้ของตน
If one remains a victim of the so-called beauty of his wife, his family life is nothing but a dark well. Hitvātma-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpam . Existence in such a dark well is certainly suicidal. If one wants relief from the miserable condition of material life, one must voluntarily give up his lusty relationship with his wife; otherwise there is no question of self-realization. Unless one is extremely advanced in spiritual consciousness, household life is nothing but a dark well in which one commits suicide. Prahlāda Mahārāja therefore recommended that in due time, at least after one’s fiftieth year, one must give up household life and go to the forest. Vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta . There one should seek shelter at the lotus feet of Hari.
FAQs
This verse shows that intense attachment can make one forget one’s own identity—Purūravā admits he cannot recognize himself because he is deluded by Urvaśī’s māyā.
In the narrative, Purūravā becomes overwhelmed by desire and dependence on Urvaśī; he confesses that her love has bound him and that he is mentally deluded.
Notice how obsession and dependency can erode clarity and self-control; cultivate detachment, disciplined senses, and devotion so relationships do not eclipse one’s higher purpose.