FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.19.14

न जातु काम: कामानामुपभोगेन शाम्यति । हविषा कृष्णवर्त्मेव भूय एवाभिवर्धते ॥ १४ ॥
na jātu kāmaḥ kāmānām
[na jaatu kaamah kaamaanaam]
upabhogena śāṁyati
[upabhogena shaamyati]
haviṣā kṛṣṇa-vartmeva
[havishaa krishna-vartmeva]
bhūya evābhivardhate
[bhooya evaabhivardhate]
na — not jātu — at any time kāmaḥ — lusty desires kāmānām — of persons who are very lusty upabhogena — by enjoyment of lusty desires śāṁyati — can be pacified haviṣā — by supplying butter kṛṣṇa-vartmā — fire iva — like bhūyaḥ — again and again eva — indeed abhivardhate — increases more and more.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
na jātu kāmaḥ kāmānām
na
not
jātu
at any time
kāmaḥ
lusty desires
kāmānām
of persons who are very lusty
upabhogena śāṁyati
upabhogena
by enjoyment of lusty desires
śāṁyati
can be pacified
haviṣā kṛṣṇa-vartmeva
haviṣā
by supplying butter
kṛṣṇa-vartmā
fire
bhūya evābhivardhate
iva
like
bhūyaḥ
again and again
eva
indeed
abhivardhate
increases more and more.
As supplying butter to a fire does not diminish the fire but instead increases it more and more, the endeavor to stop lusty desires by continual enjoyment can never be successful. [In fact, one must voluntarily cease from material desires.]

One may have enough money and enough resources to satisfy the senses but still not be satisfied, for the endeavor to stop lusty desires by enjoying can never be successful. The example given here is very appropriate. One cannot stop a blazing fire by trying to extinguish it with butter.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
As fire increases more and more by supplying oblations, lust can never be pacified by enjoyment. “Whatever amount of lust you have, let it be satisfied by additional enjoyment! For you with great wealth, all the objects of enjoyment like women, garlands and sandalwood are small things.” Kṛṣṇa-vartmā means fire. Unsatisfied desire means constant sorrow. Satisfied desire alone is happiness.
Trying to extinguish desire by enjoyment is like pouring ghee on fire. Voluntary cessation is the only way; continued indulgence cannot exhaust desire — it only multiplies its appetite.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I still pouring ghee on a fire I keep telling myself I will soon extinguish?
  • What single voluntary cessation, undertaken today, would actually start cooling the fire?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 19