Yayāti’s Renunciation: The Allegory of the He-Goat and She-Goat
सोत्तीर्य कूपात् सुश्रोणी तमेव चकमे किल । तया वृतं समुद्वीक्ष्य बह्व्योऽजा: कान्तकामिनी: ॥ ५ ॥ पीवानं श्मश्रुलं प्रेष्ठं मीढ्वांसं याभकोविदम् । स एकोऽजवृषस्तासां बह्वीनां रतिवर्धन: । रेमे कामग्रहग्रस्त आत्मानं नावबुध्यत ॥ ६ ॥
sottīrya kūpāt suśroṇī tam eva cakame kila tayā vṛtaṁ samudvīkṣya bahvyo ’jāḥ kānta-kāminīḥ
那腰胯优美的母山羊爬出井后,果然想以那公山羊为夫。见她选定了他,许多美丽多情的母山羊也都渴望他,因为他体格健壮,髭须俊美,惹人喜爱,精力充沛,且精通交合之术。于是,这唯一的雄羊之杰在众多母羊间被欲魔所缠,沉溺情欲,忘却了自我觉悟的真实本分。
Materialists are certainly very much attracted by sexual intercourse. Yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tuccham . Although one becomes a gṛhastha, or householder, to enjoy sex life to his heart’s content, one is never satisfied. Such a lusty materialist is like a goat, for it is said that if goats meant for slaughter get the opportunity, they enjoy sex before being killed. Human beings, however, are meant for self-realization.
This verse shows how attraction spreads when one is seen as an object of enjoyment—association and attention can multiply desire rather than satisfy it.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this account to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while teaching the bondage created by kāma (lust).
Guard the senses and avoid situations that inflame craving; redirect attention to sādhana and higher goals so attraction does not escalate into addiction.