it is our foult: and therefore she is not to be blamed

[Guest guest]

SB 6.18.39-40

 

TEXT 39

 

aho arthendriyaramo

yosin-mayye ha mayaya

grhita-cetah krpanah

patisye narake dhruvam

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

Kasyapa Muni thought: Alas, I have now become too attached to material

enjoyment. Taking advantage of this, my mind has been attracted by the illusory

energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of a woman [my wife].

Therefore I am surely a wretched person who will glide down toward hell.

 

 

TEXT 40

 

ko 'tikramo 'nuvartantyah

svabhavam iha yositah

dhin mam batabudham svarthe

yad aham tv ajitendriyah

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

This woman, my wife, has adopted a means that follows her nature, and

therefore she is not to be blamed. But I am a man. Therefore, all condemnation

upon me! I am not at all conversant with what is good for me, since I could not

control my senses.

 

PURPORT

 

The natural instinct of a woman is to enjoy the material world. She

induces her husband to enjoy this world by satisfying his tongue, belly and

genitals, which are called jihva, udara and upastha. A woman is expert in

cooking palatable dishes so that she can easily satisfy her husband in eating.

When one eats nicely, his belly is satisfied, and as soon as the belly is

satisfied the genitals become strong. Especially when a man is accustomed to

eating meat and drinking wine and similar passionate things, he certainly

becomes sexually inclined. It should be understood that sexual inclinations are

meant not for spiritual progress but for gliding down to hell. Thus Kasyapa

Muni considered his situation and lamented. In other words, to be a householder

is very risky unless one is trained and the wife is a follower of her husband.

A husband should be trained at the very beginning of his life. Kaumara acaret

prajno dhamaan bhagavatan iha (SB. 7.6.1). During the time of brahmacarya, or

student life, a brahmacari should be taught to be expert in bhagavata-dhamaa,

devotional service. Then when he marries, if his wife is faithful to her

husband and follows him in such life, the relationship between husband and wife

is very desirable. However, a relationship between husband and wife without

spiritual consciousness but strictly for sense gratification is not at all

good. It is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.2.3) that especially in this age,

Kali-yuga, dam-patye 'bhirucir hetuh: the relationship between husband and wife

will be based on sexual power. Therefore householder life in this Kali-yuga is

extremely dangerous unless both the wife and husband take to Krsna

consciousness.