Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 17
Priyavrata Accepts Kingship by Brahmā’s Instruction; Sapta-dvīpa Formation and Renunciation
भयं प्रमत्तस्य वनेष्वपि स्याद् यत: स आस्ते सहषट्सपत्न: । जितेन्द्रियस्यात्मरतेर्बुधस्य गृहाश्रम: किं नु करोत्यवद्यम् ॥ १७ ॥
bhayaṁ pramattasya vaneṣv api syād yataḥ sa āste saha-ṣaṭ-sapatnaḥ jitendriyasyātma-rater budhasya gṛhāśramaḥ kiṁ nu karoty avadyam
Người buông lung không tự chế, dù đi hết rừng này sang rừng khác vẫn sợ trói buộc vật chất, vì sống cùng sáu “người vợ chung”—tâm và các căn nhận thức. Nhưng đời sống gia chủ cũng không thể hại người trí, tự mãn trong nội tâm và đã chế ngự các căn.
Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has sung, gṛhe vā vanete thāke, ‘hā gaurāṅga’ bale ḍāke: whether one is situated in the forest or at home, if he is engaged in the devotional service of Lord Caitanya, he is a liberated person. Here this is also repeated. For one who has not controlled his senses, going to the forest to become a so-called yogī is meaningless. Because his uncontrolled mind and senses are going with him, he cannot achieve anything, even by giving up household life and staying in the forest. Formerly many mercantile men from the up-country of India used to go to Bengal, and thus there is a familiar saying, “If you go to Bengal, your fortune will go with you.” Our first concern, therefore, should be to control the senses, and since the senses cannot be controlled unless engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, our most important duty is to engage the senses in devotional service. Hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate: bhakti means engagement of the purified senses in the service of the Lord.
FAQs
This verse says fear can exist even in the forest if one is careless, because the uncontrolled senses remain as internal enemies.
It points to the six senses as competing forces that drag a heedless person into danger and anxiety even without external threats.
By conquering the senses and cultivating inner satisfaction in the Self (ātma-rati), household life need not become a cause of sin or blame.