BHAGAVAD-GITA 18:38

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 18:38

 

visayendriya-samyogad

yat tad agre 'mrtopamam

pariname visam iva

tat sukham rajasam smrtam

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

visaya--of the objects of the senses; indriya--and the senses;

samyogat--from the combination; yat--which; tat--that; agre--in the

beginning; amrta-upamam--just like nectar; pariname--at the end; visam

iva--like poison; tat--that; sukham--happiness; rajasam--in the mode

of passion; smrtam--is considered.

 

TRANSLATION

 

That happiness which is derived from contact of the senses with their

objects and which appears like nectar at first but poison at the end

is said to be of the nature of passion.

 

PURPORT

 

A young man and a young woman meet, and the senses drive the young man

to see her, to touch her and to have sexual intercourse. In the

beginning this may be very pleasing to the senses, but at the end, or

after some time, it becomes just like poison. They are separated or

there is divorce, there is lamentation, there is sorrow, etc. Such

happiness is always in the mode of passion. Happiness derived from a

combination of the senses and the sense objects is always a cause of

distress and should be avoided by all means.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.