1–çré-brähmaëa uväca
sukham aindriyakaà räjan
svarge naraka eva ca
dehinäà yad yathä duùkhaà
tasmän neccheta tad-budhaù
The saintly brähmaëa said: O King, the embodied living entity automatically
experiences unhappiness in heaven or hell. Similarly, happiness will also be
experienced, even without one’s seeking it. Therefore a person of intelligent
discrimination does not make any endeavor to obtain such material happiness.
2–gräsaà su-måñöaà virasaà
mahäntaà stokam eva vä
yadåcchayaiväpatitaà
grased äjagaro ‘kriyaù
Following the example of the python, one should give up material endeavors
and accept for one’s maintenance food that comes of its own accord, whether
such food be delicious or tasteless, ample or meager.
3–çayétähäni bhüréëi
nirähäro ‘nupakramaù
yadi nopanayed gräso
mahähir iva diñöa-bhuk
If at any time food does not come, then a saintly person should fast for many
days without making endeavor. He should understand that by God’s
arrangement he must fast. Thus, following the example of the python, he
should remain peaceful and patient.
4–ojaù-saho-bala-yutaà
bibhrad deham akarmakam
çayäno véta-nidraç ca
nehetendriyavän api
A saintly person should remain peaceful and materially inactive, maintaining
his body without much endeavor. Even though possessed of full sensual, mental
and physical strength, a saintly person should not become active for material
gain but rather should always remain alert to his actual self-interest
5–muniù prasanna-gambhéro
durvigähyo duratyayaù
ananta-päro hy akñobhyaù
stimitoda ivärëavaù
A saintly sage is happy and pleasing in his external behavior, whereas
internally he is most grave and thoughtful. Because his knowledge is
immeasurable and unlimited he is never disturbed, and thus in all respects he is
like the tranquil waters of the unfathomable and unsurpassable ocean.
6–samåddha-kämo héno vä
näräyaëa-paro muniù
notsarpeta na çuñyeta
saridbhir iva sägaraù
During the rainy season the swollen rivers rush into the ocean, and during
the dry summer the rivers, now shallow, severely reduce their supply of water;
yet the ocean does not swell up during the rainy season, nor does it dry up in
the hot summer. In the same way, a saintly devotee who has accepted the
Supreme Personality of Godhead as the goal of his life sometimes will receive by
providence great material opulence, and sometimes he will find himself
materially destitute. However, such a devotee of the Lord does not rejoice in a
flourishing condition, nor is he morose when poverty-stricken.
7–dåñövä striyaà deva-mäyäà
tad-bhävair ajitendriyaù
pralobhitaù pataty andhe
tamasy agnau pataìga-vat
One who has failed to control his senses immediately feels attraction upon
seeing a woman’s form, which is created by the illusory energy of the Supreme
Lord. Indeed, when the woman speaks with enticing words, smiles coquettishly
and moves her body sensuously, his mind is immediately captured, and thus he
falls blindly into the darkness of material existence, just as the moth maddened
by the fire rushes blindly into its flames.
8–yoñid-dhiraëyäbharaëämbarädidravyeñu
mäyä-raciteñu müòhaù
pralobhitätmä hy upabhoga-buddhyä
pataìga-van naçyati nañöa-dåñöiù
A foolish person with no intelligent discrimination is immediately aroused at
the sight of a lusty woman beautifully decorated with golden ornaments, fine
clothing and other cosmetic features. Being eager for sense gratification, such a
fool loses all intelligence and is destroyed just like the moth who rushes into the
blazing fire.
9–stokaà stokaà grased gräsaà
deho varteta yävatä
gåhän ahiàsann ätiñöhed
våttià mädhukaréà muniù
A saintly person should accept only enough food to keep his body and soul
together. He should go from door to door accepting just a little bit of food from
each family. Thus he should practice the occupation of the honeybee.
10–aëubhyaç ca mahadbhyaç ca
çästrebhyaù kuçalo naraù
sarvataù säram ädadyät
puñpebhya iva ñaöpadaù
Just as the honeybee takes nectar from all flowers, big and small, an
intelligent human being should take the essence from all religious scriptures.
11–säyantanaà çvastanaà vä
na saìgåhëéta bhikñitam
päëi-pätrodarämatro
makñikeva na saìgrahé
A saintly person should not think, “This food I will keep to eat tonight and
this other food I can save for tomorrow.” In other words, a saintly person
should not store foodstuffs acquired by begging. Rather, he should use his own
hands as his plate and eat whatever fits on them. His only storage container
should be his belly, and whatever conveniently fits into his belly should be his
stock of food. Thus one should not imitate the greedy honeybee who eagerly
collects more and more honey.
12–säyantanaà çvastanaà vä
na saìgåhëéta bhikñukaù
makñikä iva saìgåhëan
saha tena vinaçyati
A saintly mendicant should not even collect foodstuffs to eat later in the
same day or the next day. If he disregards this injunction and like the honeybee
collects more and more delicious foodstuffs, that which he has collected will
indeed ruin him.
13–padäpi yuvatéà bhikñur
na spåçed däravém api
spåçan karéva badhyeta
kariëyä aìga-saìgataù
A saintly person should never touch a young girl. In fact, he should not even
let his foot touch a wooden doll in the shape of a woman. By bodily contact
with a woman he will surely be captured by illusion, just as the elephant is
captured by the she-elephant due to his desire to touch her body
14–nädhigacchet striyaà präjïaù
karhicin måtyum ätmanaù
balädhikaiù sa hanyeta
gajair anyair gajo yathä
nädhigacchet striyaà präjïaù
karhicin måtyum ätmanaù
balädhikaiù sa hanyeta
gajair anyair gajo yathä
15–na deyaà nopabhogyaà ca
lubdhair yad duùkha-saïcitam
bhuìkte tad api tac cänyo
madhu-hevärthavin madhu
A greedy person accumulates a large quantity of money with great struggle
and pain, but the person who has struggled so much to acquire this wealth is not
always allowed to enjoy it himself or give it in charity to others. The greedy
man is like the bee who struggles to produce a large quantity of honey, which is
then stolen by a man who will enjoy it personally or sell it to others. No matter
how carefully one hides his hard-earned wealth or tries to protect it, there are
those who are expert in detecting the whereabouts of valuable things, and they
will steal it
16–su-duùkhopärjitair vittair
äçäsänäà gåhäçiñaù
madhu-hevägrato bhuìkte
yatir vai gåha-medhinäm
Just as a hunter takes away the honey laboriously produced by the
honeybees, similarly, saintly mendicants such as brahmacärés and sannyäsés are
entitled to enjoy the property painstakingly accumulated by householders
dedicated to family enjoyment.
17–grämya-gétaà na çåëuyäd
yatir vana-caraù kvacit
çikñeta hariëäd baddhän
mågayor géta-mohität
A saintly person dwelling in the forest in the renounced order of life should
never listen to songs or music promoting material enjoyment. Rather, a saintly
person should carefully study the example of the deer, who is bewildered by the
sweet music of the hunter’s horn and is thus captured and killed.
18–nåtya-väditra-gétäni
juñan grämyäëi yoñitäm
äsäà kréòanako vaçya
åñyaçåìgo mågé-sutaù
Becoming attracted to the worldly singing, dancing and musical
entertainment of beautiful women, even the great sage Åñyaçåìga, the son of
Mågé, fell totally under their control, just like a pet animal.
19—jihvayäti-pramäthinyä
jano rasa-vimohitaù
måtyum åcchaty asad-buddhir
ménas tu baòiçair yathä
Just as a fish, incited by the desire to enjoy his tongue, is fatally trapped on
the fisherman’s hook, similarly, a foolish person is bewildered by the extremely
disturbing urges of the tongue and thus is ruined.
20–indriyäëi jayanty äçu
nirähärä manéñiëaù
varjayitvä tu rasanaà
tan nirannasya vardhate
By fasting, learned men quickly bring all of the senses except the tongue
under control, because by abstaining from eating such men are afflicted with an
increased desire to gratify the sense of taste.
21–tävaj jitendriyo na syäd
vijitänyendriyaù pumän
na jayed rasanaà yävaj
jitaà sarvaà jite rase
Although one may conquer all of the other senses, as long as the tongue is
not conquered it cannot be said that one has controlled his senses. However, if
one is able to control the tongue, then one is understood to be in full control of
all the senses.
22–piìgalä näma veçyäséd
videha-nagare purä
tasyä me çikñitaà kiïcin
nibodha nåpa-nandana
O son of kings, previously in the city of Videha there dwelled a prostitute
named Piìgalä. Now please hear what I have learned from that lady.
23–sä svairiëy ekadä käntaà
saìketa upaneñyaté
abhüt käle bahir dväre
bibhraté rüpam uttamam
Once that prostitute, desiring to bring a lover into her house, stood outside
in the doorway at night showing her beautiful form.
24–märga ägacchato vékñya
puruñän puruñarñabha
tän çulka-dän vittavataù
käntän mene ‘rtha-kämuké
O best among men, this prostitute was very anxious to get money, and as she
stood on the street at night she studied all the men who were passing by,
thinking, “Oh, this one surely has money. I know he can pay the price, and I
am sure he would enjoy my company very much.” Thus she thought about all
the men on the street.
25/26–ägateñv apayäteñu
sä saìketopajéviné
apy anyo vittavän ko ‘pi
mäm upaiñyati bhüri-daù
evaà duräçayä dhvastanidrä
dväry avalambaté
nirgacchanté praviçaté
niçéthaà samapadyata
As the prostitute Piìgalä stood in the doorway, many men came and went,
walking by her house. Her only means of sustenance was prostitution, and
therefore she anxiously thought, “Maybe this one who is coming now is very
rich…Oh, he is not stopping, but I am sure someone else will come. Surely this
man who is coming now will want to pay me for my love, and he will probably
give lots of money.” Thus, with vain hope, she remained leaning against the
doorway, unable to finish her business and go to sleep. Out of anxiety she would
sometimes walk out toward the street, and sometimes she went back into her
house. In this way, the midnight hour gradually arrived.
27–tasyä vittäçayä çuñyadvakträyä
déna-cetasaù
nirvedaù paramo jajïe
cintä-hetuù sukhävahaù
As the night wore on, the prostitute, who intensely desired money, gradually
became morose, and her face dried up. Thus being filled with anxiety for money
and most disappointed, she began to feel a great detachment from her situation,
and happiness arose in her mind.
28–tasyä nirviëëa-cittäyä
gétaà çåëu yathä mama
nirveda äçä-päçänäà
puruñasya yathä hy asiù
The prostitute felt disgusted with her material situation and thus became
indifferent to it. Indeed, detachment acts like a sword, cutting to pieces the
binding network of material hopes and desires. Now please hear from me the
song sung by the prostitute in that situation.
29–na hy aìgäjäta-nirvedo
deha-bandhaà jihäsati
yathä vijïäna-rahito
manujo mamatäà nåpa
O King, just as a human being who is bereft of spiritual knowledge never
desires to give up his false sense of proprietorship over many material things,
similarly, a person who has not developed detachment never desires to give up
the bondage of the material body.
30–piìgaloväca
aho me moha-vitatià
paçyatävijitätmanaù
yä käntäd asataù kämaà
kämaye yena bäliçä
The prostitute Piìgalä said: Just see how greatly illusioned I am ! Because I
cannot control my mind, just like a fool I desire lusty pleasure from an
insignificant man.
31–santaà samépe ramaëaà rati-pradaà
vitta-pradaà nityam imaà vihäya
akäma-daà duùkha-bhayädhi-çokamoha-
pradaà tuccham ahaà bhaje ‘jïä
I am such a fool that I have given up the service of that person who, being
eternally situated within my heart, is actually most dear to me. That most dear
one is the Lord of the universe, who is the bestower of real love and happiness
and the source of all prosperity. Although He is in my own heart, I have
completely neglected Him. Instead I have ignorantly served insignificant men
who can never satisfy my real desires and who have simply brought me
unhappiness, fear, anxiety, lamentation and illusion.
32–aho mayätmä paritäpito våthä
säìketya-våttyäti-vigarhya-värtayä
straiëän naräd yärtha-tåño ‘nuçocyät
krétena vittaà ratim ätmanecchaté
Oh, how I have uselessly tortured my own soul! I have sold my body to
lusty, greedy men who are themselves objects of pity. Thus practicing the most
abominable profession of a prostitute, I hoped to get money and sex pleasure.
33-yad asthibhir nirmita-vaàça-vaàsyasthüëaà
tvacä roma-nakhaiù pinaddham
kñaran-nava-dväram agäram etad
vië-mütra-pürëaà mad upaiti känyä
This material body is like a house in which I, the soul, am living. The bones
forming my spine, ribs, arms and legs are like the beams, crossbeams and pillars
of the house, and the whole structure, which is full of stool and urine, is
covered by skin, hair and nails. The nine doors leading into this body are
constantly excreting foul substances. Besides me, what woman could be so
foolish as to devote herself to this material body, thinking that she might find
pleasure and love in this contraption?
34–videhänäà pure hy asminn
aham ekaiva müòha-dhéù
yänyam icchanty asaty asmäd
ätma-dät kämam acyutät
Certainly in this city of Videha I alone am completely foolish. I neglected
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who awards us everything, even our
original spiritual form, and instead I desired to enjoy sense gratification with
many men.
35–suhåt preñöhatamo nätha
ätmä cäyaà çarériëäm
taà vikréyätmanaivähaà
rame ‘nena yathä ramä
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is absolutely the most dear one for all
living beings because He is everyone’s well-wisher and Lord. He is the Supreme
Soul situated in everyone’s heart. Therefore I will now pay the price of
complete surrender, and thus purchasing the Lord I will enjoy with Him just
like Lakñmédevé.
36–kiyat priyaà te vyabhajan
kämä ye käma-dä naräù
ädy-antavanto bhäryäyä
devä vä käla-vidrutäù
Men provide sense gratification for women, but all these men, and even the
demigods in heaven, have a beginning and an end. They are all temporary
creations who will be dragged away by time. Therefore how much actual
pleasure or happiness could any of them ever give to their wive
37–nünaà me bhagavän préto
viñëuù kenäpi karmaëä
nirvedo ‘yaà duräçäyä
yan me jätaù sukhävahaù
Although I most stubbornly hoped to enjoy the material world, somehow or
other detachment has arisen in my heart, and it is making me very happy.
Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viñëu, must be pleased with
me. Without even knowing it, I must have performed some activity satisfying to Him.
38–maivaà syur manda-bhägyäyäù
kleçä nirveda-hetavaù
yenänubandhaà nirhåtya
puruñaù çamam åcchati
A person who has developed detachment can give up the bondage of material
society, friendship and love, and a person who undergoes great suffering
gradually becomes, out of hopelessness, detached and indifferent to the material
world. Thus, due to my great suffering, such detachment awoke in my heart;
yet how could I have undergone such merciful suffering if I were actually
unfortunate? Therefore, I am in fact fortunate and have received the mercy of the Lord. He must somehow or other be pleased with me.
39–tenopakåtam ädäya
çirasä grämya-saìgatäù
tyaktvä duräçäù çaraëaà
vrajämi tam adhéçvaram
With devotion I accept the great benefit that the Lord has bestowed upon
me. Having given up my sinful desires for ordinary sense gratification, I now
take shelter of Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
40–santuñöä çraddadhaty etad
yathä-läbhena jévaté
viharämy amunaiväham
ätmanä ramaëena vai
I am now completely satisfied, and I have full faith in the Lord’s mercy.
Therefore I will maintain myself with whatever comes of its own accord. I shall
enjoy life with only the Lord, because He is the real source of love and
happiness.
41–saàsära-küpe patitaà
viñayair muñitekñaëam
grastaà kälähinätmänaà
ko ‘nyas trätum adhéçvaraù
The intelligence of the living entity is stolen away by activities of sense
gratification, and thus he falls into the dark well of material existence. Within
that well he is then seized by the deadly serpent of time. Who else but the
Supreme Personality of Godhead could save the poor living entity from such a
hopeless condition?
42–ätmaiva hy ätmano goptä
nirvidyeta yadäkhilät
apramatta idaà paçyed
grastaà kälähinä jagat
When the living entity sees that the entire universe has been seized by the
serpent of time, he becomes sober and sane and at that time detaches himself
from all material sense gratification. In that condition the living entity is
qualified to be his own protector.
43–çré-brähmaëa uväca
evaà vyavasita-matir
duräçäà känta-tarña-jäm
chittvopaçamam ästhäya
çayyäm upaviveça sä
The avadhüta said: Thus, her mind completely made up, Piìgalä cut off all
her sinful desires to enjoy sex pleasure with lovers, and she became situated in
perfect peace. Then she sat down on her bed.
44–äçä hi paramaà duùkhaà
nairäçyaà paramaà sukham
yathä saïchidya käntäçäà
sukhaà suñväpa piìgalä
Material desire is undoubtedly the cause of the greatest unhappiness, and
freedom from such desire is the cause of the greatest happiness. Therefore,
completely cutting off her desire to enjoy so-called lovers, Piìgalä very happily
went to sleep.
