Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 37
Priyavrata Accepts Kingship by Brahmā’s Instruction; Sapta-dvīpa Formation and Renunciation
अहो असाध्वनुष्ठितं यदभिनिवेशितोऽहमिन्द्रियैरविद्यारचितविषमविषयान्धकूपे तदलमलममुष्या वनिताया विनोदमृगं मां धिग्धिगिति गर्हयाञ्चकार ॥ ३७ ॥
aho asādhv anuṣṭhitaṁ yad abhiniveśito ’ham indriyair avidyā-racita-viṣama-viṣayāndha-kūpe tad alam alam amuṣyā vanitāyā vinoda-mṛgaṁ māṁ dhig dhig iti garhayāṁ cakāra.
แล้วพระราชาทรงตำหนิตนเองว่า “โอ้ น่าเวทนา! เราปฏิบัติชั่วเพียงใด ถูกอินทรีย์ครอบงำจนตกลงสู่บ่อมืดแห่งอารมณ์อันคดเคี้ยวที่อวิทยาสร้างไว้ พอแล้ว พอแล้ว! เราจะไม่เสพสุขอีก ดูเถิด เรากลายเป็นดั่งลิงเต้นรำ เป็นของเล่นเพื่อความสำราญในมือภรรยา น่าติเตียนยิ่งนัก”
How condemned is the advancement of material knowledge can be understood from the behavior of Mahārāja Priyavrata. He performed such wonderful acts as creating another sun, which shined during the night, and creating a chariot so great that its wheels formed vast oceans. These activities are so great that modern scientists cannot even imagine how such things can be done. Mahārāja Priyavrata acted very wonderfully in the material field of activities, but because he was dealing in sense gratification — ruling his kingdom and dancing to the indications of his beautiful wife — he personally condemned himself. When we think about this example of Mahārāja Priyavrata, we can just consider how degraded is the modern civilization of materialistic advancement. Modern so-called scientists and other materialists are very satisfied because they can construct great bridges, roads and machines, but such activities are nothing comparable to those of Mahārāja Priyavrata. If Mahārāja Priyavrata could condemn himself in spite of his wonderful activities, how condemned we are in our so-called advancement of material civilization. We can conclude that such advancement has nothing to do with the problems of the living entity entangled within this material world. Unfortunately, modern man does not understand his entanglement and how condemned he is, nor does he know what kind of body he is going to have in the next life. From a spiritual point of view, a great kingdom, beautiful wife and wonderful material activities are all impediments to spiritual advancement. Mahārāja Priyavrata had served the great sage Nārada sincerely. Therefore even though he had accepted material opulences, he could not be deviated from his own task. He again became Kṛṣṇa conscious. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā:
FAQs
This verse describes sense-objects as a dangerous “blind well” created by ignorance, where a person becomes trapped by the senses and suffers humiliation and regret.
He recognizes that his own uncontrolled senses led him into degrading attachment; after being scorned and used for amusement, he awakens to the shameful result of such entanglement.
Practice conscious sense-restraint—avoid relationships and habits that reduce you to an object of pleasure, and cultivate spiritual priorities (sādhana, good association, and remembrance of the Lord).