FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.21.19

विषयेषु गुणाध्यासात् पुंस: सङ्गस्ततो भवेत् । सङ्गात्तत्र भवेत् काम: कामादेव कलिर्नृणाम् ॥ १९ ॥
viṣayeṣu guṇādhyāsāt
[vishayeshu gunaadhyaasaat]
puṁsaḥ saṅgas tato bhavet
[pumsah sangas tato bhavet]
saṅgāt tatra bhavet kāmaḥ
[sangaat tatra bhavet kaamah]
kāmād eva kalir nṛṇām
[kaamaad eva kalir nrinaam]
viṣayeṣu — in material objects of sense gratification guṇa-adhyāsāt — because of presuming them to be good puṁsaḥ — of a person saṅgaḥ — attachment tataḥ — from that presumption bhavet — comes into being saṅgāt — from that material association tatra — thus bhavet — arises kāmaḥ — lust kāmāt — from lust eva — also kaliḥ — quarrel nṛṇām — among men.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
viṣayeṣu guṇādhyāsāt
viṣayeṣu
in material objects of sense gratification
guṇa-adhyāsāt
because of presuming them to be good
puṁsaḥ saṅgas tato bhavet
puṁsaḥ
of a person
saṅgaḥ
attachment
tataḥ
from that presumption
bhavet
comes into being
saṅgāt tatra bhavet kāmaḥ
saṅgāt
from that material association
tatra
thus
bhavet
arises
kāmaḥ
lust
kāmād eva kalir nṛṇām
kāmāt
from lust
eva
also
kaliḥ
quarrel
nṛṇām
among men.
One who accepts material sense objects as desirable certainly becomes attached to them. From such attachment lust arises, and this lust creates quarrel among men.

The actual goal of human life should not be material sense gratification, for it is the basis of conflict in human society. Although the Vedic literature sometimes sanctions sense gratification, the ultimate purpose of the Vedas is renunciation, since Vedic culture cannot possibly recommend anything that disturbs human life. A lusty person is easily angered and becomes inimical to anyone frustrating his lusty desires. Since his sex desire can never be satisfied, a lusty person ultimately becomes frustrated with his own sex partner, and thus a “love-hate” relationship develops. A lusty person considers himself to be the enjoyer of God’s creation and is therefore full of pride and false prestige. The lusty, proud person will not be attracted to the process of humble submission at the lotus feet of the bona fide spiritual master. Attraction to illicit sex is thus the direct enemy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which depends upon humble submission to the representative of the Supreme Lord. Lord Kṛṣṇa also states in Bhagavad-gītā that desire for illicit sex is the all-devouring, sinful enemy of this world.

Because modern society sanctions unrestricted mixing of men and women, its citizens cannot possibly achieve peace; rather, the regulation of conflict becomes the basis of social survival. This is the symptom of an ignorant society falsely accepting the material body as the highest good, as described here by the words viṣayeṣu guṇādhyāsāt. One who is too affectionate to his own body will inevitably be seized by sex desire.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
One becomes attached because of thinking that an object is good. From that attachment desire arises. From desire quarrel arises. The path of enjoyment is shown to be the cause of great obstacles in order to defeat persons absorbed in the path of enjoyment mentioned in the Vedas. This is explained in four verses. Men become attached because of thinking that certain objects are good. From that attachment desire arises. From desire arises quarrel with persons who oppose one’s desires.
Treating sense objects as desirable produces attachment; attachment produces lust; lust produces quarrel. The chain is short and predictable.
Reflection Questions
  • Where can I see the chain forming in my own life right now?
  • What single intervention breaks the chain earliest?
📝 My note

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