FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.18.40

कोऽतिक्रमोऽनुवर्तन्त्या: स्वभावमिह योषित: । धिङ्‌मां बताबुधं स्वार्थे यदहं त्वजितेन्द्रिय: ॥ ४० ॥
ko ’tikramo ’nuvartantyāḥ
[ko ’tikramo ’nuvartantyaah]
svabhāvam iha yoṣitaḥ
[svabhaavam iha yoshitah]
dhiṅ māṁ batābudhaṁ svārthe
[dhin maam bataabudham svaarthe]
yad ahaṁ tv ajitendriyaḥ
[yad aham tv ajitendriyah]
kaḥ — what atikramaḥ — offense anuvartantyāḥ — following sva-bhāvam — her nature iha — here yoṣitaḥ — of the woman dhik — condemnation mām — unto me bata — alas abudham — not conversant sva-arthe — in what is good for me yat — because aham — I tu — indeed ajita-indriyaḥ — unable to control my senses.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ko ’tikramo ’nuvartantyāḥ
kaḥ
what
svabhāvam iha yoṣitaḥ
dhiṅ māṁ batābudhaṁ svārthe
atikramaḥ
offense
anuvartantyāḥ
following
sva-bhāvam
her nature
iha
here
yoṣitaḥ
of the woman
dhik
condemnation
mām
unto me
bata
alas
abudham
not conversant
sva-arthe
in what is good for me
yad ahaṁ tv ajitendriyaḥ
yat
because
aham
I
tu
indeed
ajita-indriyaḥ
unable to control my senses.
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.

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 jihvā, 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 Kaśyapa 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. Kaumāra ācaret prājño dharmān bhāgavatān iha ( Bhāg. 7.6.1 ). During the time of brahmacarya, or student life, a brahmacārī should be taught to be expert in bhāgavata-dharma, 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 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (12.2.3) that especially in this age, Kali-yuga, dām-patye ’bhirucir hetuḥ: 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 Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
What offense is there if a woman follows her cruel nature? But what misfortune for me, ignorant of my own benefit, since I have uncontrolled senses! What offense is there for woman who simply follows her nature of cruelty?
Related verses
This woman acted by her nature, not to be blamed; condemnation upon me — a man not conversant with my own good and unable to control my senses. The responsibility is taken inward.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I blaming another for an outcome I made possible by my own undisciplined response?
  • What ownership would change the dynamic?
📝 My note

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