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Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 5

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。

सःhe
सः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
उत्तीर्यhaving climbed out
उत्तीर्य:
Purva-kala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootउत्-तॄ (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive), ‘having come out/crossed up’
कूपात्from the well
कूपात्:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootकूप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन
सुश्रोणीthe fair-hipped (she-goat)
सुश्रोणी:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसु-श्रोणी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (सुश्रोणी ‘one who has beautiful hips’)
तम्him
तम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
एवindeed, just
एव:
Nipata (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/अवधारण (particle of emphasis)
चकमेdesired/loved
चकमे:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकम् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
किलindeed, it is said
किल:
Nipata (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकिल (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; खल्वर्थे/श्रुत्यर्थे (indeed/it is said)
तयाby her
तया:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन
वृतम्surrounded/encircled
वृतम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootवृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वृ धातु)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), विशेषण (तम्)
समुद्वीक्ष्यhaving looked around
समुद्वीक्ष्य:
Purva-kala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-उद्-ईक्ष् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive), ‘having looked around/observed’
बह्व्यःmany
बह्व्यः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (अजाः)
अजाःshe-goats
अजाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअजा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
कान्त-कामिनीःlovely and amorous
कान्त-कामिनीः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootकान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + कामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (कान्ताः च ताः कामिन्यः) विशेषण (अजाः)

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.

A
Ajavṛṣa (the he-goat)
S
Suśroṇī (the she-goat)

FAQs

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.