FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.14.4

यथा ह्यनुवत्सरं कृष्यमाणमप्यदग्धबीजं क्षेत्रं पुनरेवावपनकाले गुल्मतृणवीरुद्भ‍िर्गह्वरमिव भवत्येवमेव गृहाश्रम: कर्मक्षेत्रं यस्मिन्न हि कर्माण्युत्सीदन्ति यदयं कामकरण्ड एष आवसथ: ॥ ४ ॥
yathā hy anuvatsaraṁ kṛṣyamāṇam apy adagdha-bījaṁ kṣetraṁ punar evāvapana-kāle gulma-tṛṇa-vīrudbhir gahvaram iva bhavaty evam eva gṛhāśramaḥ karma-kṣetraṁ yasmin na hi karmāṇy utsīdanti yad ayaṁ kāma-karaṇḍa eṣa āvasathaḥ.
[yathaa hy anuvatsaram krishyamaanam apy adagdha-beejam kshetram punar evaavapana-kaale gulma-trina-veerudbhir gahvaram iva bhavaty evam eva grihaashramah karma-kshetram yasmin na hi karmaany utseedanti yad ayam kaama-karanda esha aavasathah.]
Word-for-word
yathā — just as hi — certainly anuvatsaram — every year kṛṣyamāṇam — being plowed api — although adagdha-bījam — in which the seeds are not burned kṣetram — the field punaḥ — again eva — certainly āvapana-kāle — at the times for sowing the seeds gulma — by bushes tṛṇa — by grasses vīrudbhiḥ — by the creepers gahvaram iva — like a bower bhavati — becomes evam — thus eva — certainly gṛha-āśramaḥ — family life karma-kṣetram — the field of activities yasmin — in which na — not hi — certainly karmāṇi utsīdanti — fruitive activities disappear yat — therefore ayam — this kāma-karaṇḍaḥ — the storehouse of fruitive desire eṣaḥ — this āvasathaḥ — abode.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yathā hy anuvatsaraṁ kṛṣyamāṇam apy adagdha-bījaṁ kṣetraṁ punar evāvapana-kāle gulma-tṛṇa-vīrudbhir gahvaram iva bhavaty evam eva gṛhāśramaḥ karma-kṣetraṁ yasmin na hi karmāṇy utsīdanti yad ayaṁ kāma-karaṇḍa eṣa āvasathaḥ.
yathā
just as
hi
certainly
anuvatsaram
every year
kṛṣyamāṇam
being plowed
api
although
adagdha-bījam
in which the seeds are not burned
kṣetram
the field
punaḥ
again
eva
certainly
āvapana-kāle
at the times for sowing the seeds
gulma
by bushes
tṛṇa
by grasses
vīrudbhiḥ
by the creepers
gahvaram iva
like a bower
bhavati
becomes
evam
thus
eva
certainly
gṛha-āśramaḥ
family life
karma-kṣetram
the field of activities
yasmin
in which
na
not
hi
certainly
karmāṇi utsīdanti
fruitive activities disappear
yat
therefore
ayam
this
kāma-karaṇḍaḥ
the storehouse of fruitive desire
eṣaḥ
this
āvasathaḥ
abode.
Every year the plowman plows over his grain field, completely uprooting all weeds. Nonetheless, the seeds lie there and, not being completely burned, again come up with the plants sown in the field. Even after being plowed under, the weeds come up densely. Similarly, the gṛhastha-āśrama [family life] is a field of fruitive activity. Unless the desire to enjoy family life is completely burned out, it grows up again and again. Even though camphor may be removed from a pot, the pot nonetheless retains the aroma of camphor. As long as the seeds of desire are not destroyed, fruitive activities are not destroyed.
Purport

Unless one’s desires are completely transferred to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the desire for family life continues, even after one has taken sannyāsa. Sometimes in our society, ISKCON, a person out of sentiment may take sannyāsa, but because his desires are not burned completely, he again takes to family life, even at the risk of losing his prestige and disgracing his good name. These strong desires can be burned out completely when one fully engages in the service of the Lord in devotional service.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Just as unburned seeds from weeds, though ploughed under, again spring up as a thicket of brushes, grass and creepers after sowing seeds, the household is the field of action, in which the actions do not cease since the household is a storehouse for desires. This verse describes the dense thicket of creepers, grass and bushes. Action does not disappear since the household is a storehouse of desires. Just as a pot in which the hing has disappeared still has the smell of hing, activities are not dissipated since impressions remain.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Family desires are like weed seeds — even after sannyāsa they sprout again if not fully burned. Many a renunciant has returned to family life simply because the seeds were never fully roasted. Burn the desire all the way, or expect the plant to return.
Reflection Questions
  • Which desires have you 'plowed under' but not actually burned — and where are they sprouting again?
  • What practice fully roasts a desire rather than just suppressing it for a season?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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