BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:34

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:34

 

indriyasyendriyasyarthe

raga-dvesau vyavasthitau

tayor na vasam agacchet

tau hy asya paripanthinau

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

indriyasya--of the senses; indriyasya arthe--in the sense objects;

raga--attachment; dvesau--also detachment; vyavasthitau--put under

regulations; tayoh--of them; na--never; vasam--control; agacchet--one

should come; tau--those; hi--certainly; asya--his;

paripanthinau--stumbling blocks.

 

TRANSLATION

 

There are principles to regulate attachment and aversion pertaining to

the senses and their objects. One should not come under the control of

such attachment and aversion, because they are stumbling blocks on the

path of self-realization.

 

PURPORT

 

Those who are in Krsna consciousness are naturally reluctant to engage

in material sense gratification. But those who are not in such

consciousness should follow the rules and regulations of the revealed

scriptures. Unrestricted sense enjoyment is the cause of material

encagement, but one who follows the rules and regulations of the

revealed scriptures does not become entangled by the sense objects.

For example, sex enjoyment is a necessity for the conditioned soul,

and sex enjoyment is allowed under the license of marriage ties.

According to scriptural injunctions, one is forbidden to engage in sex

relationships with any women other than one's wife. All other women

are to be considered as one's mother. But in spite of such

injunctions, a man is still inclined to have sex relationships with

other women. These propensities are to be curbed; otherwise they will

be stumbling blocks on the path of self-realization. As long as the

material body is there, the necessities of the material body are

allowed, but under rules and regulations. And yet, we should not rely

upon the control of such allowances. One has to follow those rules and

regulations, unattached to them, because practice of sense

gratification under regulations may also lead one to go astray--as

much as there is always the chance of an accident, even on the royal

roads. Although they may be very carefully maintained, no one can

guarantee that there will be no danger even on the safest road. The

sense enjoyment spirit has been current a very long, long time, owing

to material association. Therefore, in spite of regulated sense

enjoyment, there is every chance of falling down; therefore any

attachment for regulated sense enjoyment must also be avoided by all

means. But attachment to Krsna consciousness, or acting always in the

loving service of Krsna, detaches one from all kinds of sensory

activities. Therefore, no one should try to be detached from Krsna

consciousness at any stage of life. The whole purpose of detachment

from all kinds of sense attachment is ultimately to become situated on

the platform of Krsna consciousness.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.