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.
Minsan, natatagpuan niya ang buhay-pamilya na parang naglalagablab na apoy sa gubat—walang kahit kaunting ligaya, at unti-unting lalo pang nalulubog sa paghihirap. Nasusunog sa apoy ng dalamhati, dumarating siya sa matinding pagkasawa at pagsisisi. Sa buhay-bahay walang bagay na pabor sa walang-hanggang kaligayahan. Kapag nalubog dito, minsan sinisisi niya ang sarili bilang napakamalas, minsan nama’y iniisip na dahil wala siyang naipong kabutihan sa nakaraang buhay.
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.