Srimad Bhagavatam 8.12.32-35 - Avoid Situations Unfavourable To Bhakti (download mp3)
by Govinda Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net
SB 8.12.32
tasyanudhavato retas
caskandamogha-retasah
susmino yuthapasyeva
vasitam anudhavatah
Translation:
Just as a maddened bull elephant follows a female elephant who is able to conceive pregnancy, Lord Siva followed the beautiful woman and discharged semen, even though his discharge of semen never goes in vain.
SB 8.12.33
yatra yatrapatan mahyam
retas tasya mahatmanah
tani rupyasya hemnas ca
ksetrany asan mahi-pate
Translation:
O King, wheresoever on the surface of the globe fell the semen of the great personality of Lord Siva, mines of gold and silver later appeared.
Purport:
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura comments that those who seek gold and silver can worship Lord Siva for material opulences. Lord Siva lives under a bael tree and does not even construct a house in which to dwell, but although he is apparently poverty-stricken, his devotees are sometimes opulently endowed with large quantities of silver and gold. Pariksit Maharaja later asks about this, and Sukadeva Gosvami replies.
SB 8.12.34
sarit-sarahsu sailesu
vanesupavanesu ca
yatra kva casann rsayas
tatra sannihito harah
Translation:
Following Mohini, Lord Siva went everywhere near the shores of the rivers and lakes, near the mountains, near the forests, near the gardens, and wherever there lived great sages.
Purport:
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura remarks that Mohini-murti dragged Lord Siva to so many places, especially to where the great sages lived, to instruct the sages that their Lord Siva had become mad for a beautiful woman. Thus although they were all great sages and saintly persons, they should not think themselves free, but should remain extremely cautious about beautiful women. No one should think himself liberated in the presence of a beautiful woman. The sastras enjoin:
matra svasra duhitra va
naviviktasano bhavet
balavan indriya-gramo
vidvamsam api karsati
"One should not stay in a solitary place with a woman, even if she be his mother, sister or daughter, for the senses are so uncontrollably powerful that in the presence of a woman one may become agitated, even if he is very learned and advanced." (SB 9.19.17)
SB 8.12.35
skanne retasi so 'pasyad
atmanam deva-mayaya
jadikrtam nrpa-srestha
sannyavartata kasmalat
Translation:
O Maharaja Pariksit, best of kings, when Lord Siva had fully discharged semen, he could see how he himself had been victimized by the illusion created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus he restrained himself from any further maya.
Purport:
Once one is agitated by lusty desires upon seeing a woman, those desires increase more and more, but when semen is discharged in the act of sex, the lusty desires diminish. The same principle acted upon Lord Siva. He was allured by the beautiful woman Mohini-murti, but when his semen had been fully discharged, he came to his senses and realized how he had been victimized as soon as he saw the woman in the forest. If one is trained to protect his semen by observing celibacy, naturally he is not attracted by the beauty of a woman. If one can remain a brahmacari, he saves himself so much trouble in material existence. Material existence means enjoying the pleasure of sexual intercourse (yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham [SB 7.9.45]). If one is educated about sex life and is trained to protect his semen, he is saved from the danger of material existence.
