Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 10
The Forest of Material Existence: Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa
कर्हि स्म चित्क्षुद्ररसान् विचिन्वं- स्तन्मक्षिकाभिर्व्यथितो विमान: । तत्रातिकृच्छ्रात्प्रतिलब्धमानो बलाद्विलुम्पन्त्यथ तं ततोऽन्ये ॥ १० ॥
karhi sma cit kṣudra-rasān vicinvaṁs tan-makṣikābhir vyathito vimānaḥ tatrāti-kṛcchrāt pratilabdhamāno balād vilumpanty atha taṁ tato ’nye
有时为了微不足道的淫欲之乐，人去追逐放荡的女子；在此过程中，他被女子的亲族羞辱惩治，如同去取蜂蜜却遭群蜂蜇刺。有时他花费巨资得另一女子以增添感官享受；然而不幸的是，这享乐之物又被另一放纵之徒强夺而去。
In a great forest, honeycombs are very important. People often go there to collect honey from the combs, and sometimes the bees attack and punish them. In human society, those who are not Kṛṣṇa conscious remain in the forest of material life simply for the honey of sex life. Such debauchees are not at all satisfied with one wife. They want many women. Day after day, with great difficulty, they try to secure such women, and sometimes, while trying to taste this kind of honey, one is attacked by a woman’s kinsmen and chastised very heavily. By bribing others, one may secure another woman for enjoyment, yet another debauchee may kidnap her or offer her something better. This woman hunting is going on in the forest of the material world, sometimes legally and sometimes illegally. Consequently in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement the devotees are forbidden to have illicit sex. Thus they avoid so many difficulties. One should remain satisfied with one woman, being duly married. One can satisfy one’s lusty desires with his wife without creating disturbances in society and being punished for doing so.
FAQs
This verse warns that pursuing petty pleasures brings inevitable disturbances—like ‘flies’—leading to frustration and humiliation, and even regained prestige is easily taken away again.
In Jaḍa Bharata’s instructions, the Bhagavatam exposes the futility of worldly honor and enjoyment, emphasizing renunciation and inner steadiness as the path to spiritual clarity.
Avoid tying self-worth to short-lived pleasures or social validation; cultivate simplicity, self-control, and devotion so that external praise or blame cannot ‘plunder’ your peace.