Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 38
The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings
एतस्मिन् संसाराध्वनि नानाक्लेशोपसर्गबाधित आपन्नविपन्नो यत्र यस्तमु ह वावेतरस्तत्र विसृज्य जातं जातमुपादाय शोचन्मुह्यन् बिभ्यद्विवदन् क्रदन् संहृष्यन्गायन्नह्यमान: साधुवर्जितो नैवावर्ततेऽद्यापि यत आरब्ध एष नरलोकसार्थो यमध्वन: पारमुपदिशन्ति ॥ ३८ ॥
etasmin saṁsārādhvani nānā-kleśopasarga-bādhita āpanna-vipanno yatra yas tam u ha vāvetaras tatra visṛjya jātaṁ jātam upādāya śocan muhyan bibhyad-vivadan krandan saṁhṛṣyan gāyan nahyamānaḥ sādhu-varjito naivāvartate ’dyāpi yata ārabdha eṣa nara-loka-sārtho yam adhvanaḥ pāram upadiśanti.
此轮回之途充满诸苦与诸难，系缚之灵有时得利、有时失利，处处皆险。或因死亡等缘故与父分离，遂弃彼而转恋他人如子女。于是或忧伤迷乱，或恐惧啼哭争执，或因维持家业而欢喜歌唱，终至忘却自无始以来与至上人格神（薄伽梵）之离别，在如阎摩之路般险恶的世途上不得真乐。唯有自证者归依主、行奉爱（bhakti）之道，方能出离；离开奉爱不得解脱——当修克里希纳意识。
By thoroughly analyzing the materialistic way of life, any sane man can understand that there is not the least happiness in this world. However, due to continuing on the path of danger from time immemorial and not associating with saintly persons, the conditioned soul, under illusion, wants to enjoy this material world. Material energy sometimes gives him a chance at so-called happiness, but the conditioned soul is perpetually being punished by material nature. It is therefore said: daṇḍya-jane rājā yena nadīte cubāya ( Cc. Madhya 20.118). Materialistic life means continuous unhappiness, but sometimes we accept happiness as it appears between the gaps. Sometimes a condemned person is submerged in water and hauled out. Actually all of this is meant for punishment, but he feels a little comfort when he is taken out of the water. This is the situation with the conditioned soul. All the śāstras therefore advise that one associate with devotees and saintly people.
FAQs
This verse describes the conditioned soul on the road of saṁsāra as repeatedly shifting between prosperity and ruin, reacting with lamentation, fear, quarrel, and fleeting joy—yet remaining bound and driven onward.
Because without saintly association the soul “does not turn back” from the destructive course of material attachment; sādhu-saṅga provides the guidance to cross beyond the path leading to Yama (death and punishment).
Notice the cycle of emotional reactions to gain and loss, and deliberately seek sādhu-saṅga—devotional hearing, chanting, and guidance—so your choices turn from compulsive worldly pursuit toward liberation and bhakti.