Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 34
The Lord’s Supervision of Embodiment: Fetal Development, Womb-Suffering, and the Jīva’s Prayer (Garbha-stuti) — and the Trap of Māyā
तेष्वशान्तेषु मूढेषु खण्डितात्मस्वसाधुषु । सङ्गं न कुर्याच्छोच्येषु योषित्क्रीडामृगेषु च ॥ ३४ ॥
teṣv aśānteṣu mūḍheṣu khaṇḍitātmasv asādhuṣu saṅgaṁ na kuryāc chocyeṣu yoṣit-krīḍā-mṛgeṣu ca
انسان کو ان بے چین، احمق اور خود شناسی سے محروم لوگوں کی صحبت اختیار نہیں کرنی چاہیے جو عورتوں کے ہاتھوں میں ناچنے والے کتے (کھلونے) کی طرح ہیں۔
The restriction of association with such foolish persons is especially meant for those who are in the line of advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness involves developing the qualities of truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, gravity, intelligence in spiritual knowledge, simplicity, material opulence, fame, forgiveness, and control of the mind and the senses. All these qualities are to be manifested with the progress of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but if one associates with a śūdra, a foolish person who is like a dancing dog in the hands of a woman, then he cannot make any progress. Lord Caitanya has advised that any person who is engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and who desires to pass beyond material nescience must not associate himself with women or with persons interested in material enjoyment. For a person seeking advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, such association is more dangerous than suicide.
FAQs
This verse warns that one should avoid the company of restless, deluded, unsaintly people who are controlled by lust and sense pleasure, because such association pulls the mind away from spiritual steadiness.
Kapila is instructing Devahuti in sādhana and renunciation—showing that progress in bhakti and self-realization requires carefully choosing uplifting association and rejecting influences that intensify ignorance and passion.
Choose friendships, media, and environments that increase calmness, discipline, and devotion; minimize influences that normalize compulsive pleasure-seeking, disrespect, and mental agitation.