Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 27
The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings
अध्वन्यमुष्मिन्निम उपसर्गास्तथा सुखदु:खरागद्वेषभयाभिमानप्रमादोन्मादशोकमोहलोभमात्सर्येर्ष्यावमानक्षुत्पिपासाधिव्याधिजन्मजरामरणादय: ॥ २७ ॥
adhvany amuṣminn ima upasargās tathā sukha-duḥkha-rāga-dveṣa-bhayābhimāna-pramādonmāda-śoka-moha-lobha-mātsaryerṣyāva-māna-kṣut-pipāsādhi-vyādhi-janma-jarā-maraṇādayaḥ.
Trong đời sống vật chất này có vô vàn chướng nạn như ta đã nói, đều khó vượt qua; lại còn những khổ nạn phát sinh từ cái gọi là hạnh phúc và đau khổ, luyến ái và thù ghét, sợ hãi, kiêu mạn giả, lơ đãng, cuồng loạn, than khóc, mê lầm, tham lam, đố kỵ, thù địch, nhục mạ, đói khát, phiền não, bệnh tật, sinh ra, già nua và chết. Tất cả hợp lại chỉ ban cho linh hồn bị ràng buộc, ham hưởng thụ, toàn là khổ đau.
The conditioned soul has to accept all these conditions simply to enjoy sense gratification in this world. Although people declare themselves great scientists, economists, philosophers, politicians and sociologists, they are actually nothing but rascals. Therefore they have been described as mūḍhas and narādhamas in Bhagavad-gītā (7.15) :
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva lists common afflictions on the path of saṁsāra—attachment and hatred, fear and false pride, grief and delusion, greed and envy, hunger and thirst, mental distress and disease—culminating in birth, old age, and death.
He is teaching Parīkṣit the nature of the ‘forest’ of material enjoyment: even when one seeks pleasure, the journey is filled with obstacles and suffering, encouraging detachment and exclusive shelter in devotional service.
Use it as a diagnostic list: notice which afflictions (fear, greed, envy, anxiety, etc.) are active, and counter them by simplifying desires, practicing self-control, and grounding daily life in bhakti—hearing, chanting, and remembering the Lord.