rule


 

 

Canto 11

S'rî S'rî S'ikshâshthaka

 

 Chapter 8: What One Learns from Nature and the Story of Pingalâ

(1) The honorable brahmin said: 'Since there is sensual happiness for as well those in heaven as for those in hell o King, and because there for all the embodied beings is also the unhappiness [as a logical consequence, reaction or shadow], should an intelligent person not desire such happiness [see B.G. 16: 16].

(2) As inactive as a python should one eat what is acquired accidentally, whether it is much or little, tasteless or pure and delicious food [7.13: 37-38]. (3) Fasting for many days should one keep one's peace and patiently wait when no food comes one's way, just like the python that eats what providence provides [7.15: 15]. (4) When one as well physically as mentally being strong maintains the body without much effort, is one peaceful and not sleepy. Even though one is capable of anything, should one [in that situation refrain] from endeavoring.

(5) A sage pleasing and grave, unfathomable, unlimited and unsurpassable [in his knowing] most surely is never disturbed like the calm waters of the ocean [see also B.G. 12: 15]. (6) Destitute or flourishing with the desirable, does someone wise, with Nârâyana as the One Supreme, swell nor dry up, just like the ocean with the rivers [B.G. 2: 70].

(7) Seeing a woman does he who didn't conquer his senses, tempted by that seductive illusory energy of God, blindly fall down into the darkness, just like a moth falls into the fire. (8) Upon seeing the clothing, golden ornaments and so on of the women the way it is arranged by mâyâ, will a person lacking in discrimination with his desire for sense-gratification feel aroused by lusty desires and no doubt, the way a moth is destroyed, loose his spiritual insight [B.G. 2: 62-63].

(9) Eating little bits of food, just enough to keep the body alive, should one being wise practice [social] security [being of nonviolence] with the householders and thus be of the occupation of a honeybee [5.5: 3, 7.2: 11-13, 7.12: 6. 7.14: 5, 7.15: 15 and B.G. 4: 21]. (10) An intelligent human being should from the smallest as well as the biggest religious scriptures extract the essence, just like a honey bee does with all the flowers big and small [11.7: 23, B.G. 15: 15]. (11) Not being a collector like a honeybee is, should one with the belly as one's container and the hand as one's plate accept food in charity and not keep it for the night or the next day. (12) A mendicant should not store things for the night or the following day, because he otherwise like a honeybee collecting more and more will be lost.

(13) A mendicant must not touch a girl, not even one of wood or with his foot, because he otherwise, like an elephant is captured by a she-elephant, will be captured by the physical contact. (14) Not to find death, should a man of wisdom never chase a woman, because he otherwise will find destruction the way an elephant is defeated by others superior in strength.

(15) Riches by a greedy person accumulated with great difficulty are neither enjoyed personally nor given away to others; they are rather enjoyed by someone else who stumbles across the wealth and steals it the way one steals the honey from a beehive [see also 5.13: 10]. (16) Just as a honey thief is the first one to enjoy the honey that painstakingly was collected, is also the ascetic the first one to enjoy the eagerly desired blessings of the wealth that with a lot of trouble was acquired by householders [see e.g. 1.19: 39 and 7.14: 17].

(17) A devotee living in the forest should never listen to worldly songs and music; one should learn that by the example of the deer that was captured being bewildered by the hunter's call [see the bhajans]. (18) Taking pleasure in vulgar dancing, musical entertainment and such songs, fell Rishyas'ringa, the son of Mrigî, because he like a plaything was fully controlled by women [see *, 5.8 and 5.25: 11].

(19) The way a fish following its taste with no intelligence is hooked and finds its death, can also a person, disturbed by what the tongue dictates, against his better knowledge waste his life. (20) The learned who are of selfrestraint quickly conquer the material senses, except however for the tongue, of which the taste for food increases with the fasting [see prasâdam prayer]. (21) As long as the tongue is not conquered can of a human being, despite of having conquered all the other senses, still not be said that he's of self-control; but he who has conquered the tongue, has conquered all [see also 8: 16 and B.G. 2: 59].

(22) In the city of Videha there used to be a prostitute called Pingalâ. Now learn from me o son of kings, what I learned from her. (23) She as a prostitute stood one night, to get a customer into her house, outside in the doorway to display her beautiful figure. (24) O best among men, motivated for the money regarded she all the men who passed by in the street as customers willing to pay the price. (25-26) As they came and went thought she, this way subsisting on selling her love: 'Maybe will some guy carrying plenty approach me for love and give me a lot'. With this vain hope not sleeping and leaning in the doorway, walking down the street and turning back to the house, it became midnight. (27) Morose in her desire for money dropping her face, awakened in her anxiety that moment a supreme detachment which brought her happiness. (28) Detachment works like a sword cutting through the binding network of hopes and desires. Please listen to the song she sang after this change of heart. (29) Dear King, evidently a person who doesn't know how to turn away from the world will not be willing to give up what binds physically, just as a human being lacking in wisdom never desires to give up his sense of ownership. (30) Pingalâ said: 'See how illusioned I am! I must be out of my mind imagining all this in my lust with a fake lover. (31) Having given up on the pleasure that belongs to Him, the One That is Most Near and Dear, was I, this ignoramus, most insignificantly of a service that, never taming the desire, brings misery, fear, distress, grief and illusion. (32) Oh how uselessly subjecting my soul to torture have I, busy as a prostitute - the most reprehensible of occupations - with my body desiring money and sexual pleasure, been selling out to womanizers who, lusting for my body, are lamentable themselves. (33) What other woman would devote herself this much to this house with nine doors which, constructed with the support of the bones of a spine, the ribs, the hands and legs and covered by a skin, hair and nails, is full of stool and drips urine [compare B.G. 5: 13 and 4.25-28]? (34) Among the residents of Videha am I the one of an intelligence that is really perplexed, for I am the one who most unchaste desires to please her senses with another man different from Him who gives us Soul, Acyuta. (35) By paying the price of giving myself to Him, the well-wisher that's absolutely the one most dear, the Lord and Soul of all who are embodied; I will for certain enjoy like Ramâ. (36) How much real happiness have the sensual pleasure and the men who satisfied my senses provided? To have an eye on a wife or the gods [even] has all, spread over time, a beginning and an end. (37) The person of me so desperate must therefore somehow have pleased the Supreme Lord Vishnu who brings the happiness that I now experience with my having forsaken the sense gratification! (38) A woman who is really unfortunate wouldn't have to face this kind of hindrances on the path of selfrealization, because they lead a person to shake off the detachment and find [real] peace. (39) Now that I refrain from cherishing false hope in relation to sexual intercourse, do I, with accepting upon my head the great help He offers, seek Him the Original Controller for my refuge. (40) Happily convinced without reservation that I thus will be able to cope with whatever comes my way, I will manage to appreciate it to live with only the One, the Self of Love and the Happiness free from doubt. (41) Who else but the Original Controller, who is capable of delivering the living being that is seized by the timeserpent, would there be when one like me in pleasing the senses is bereft of all insight and fell down in the dark well of the material ocean [see also 10.34]? (42) When the self thus can behold the universe as being seized by the timeserpent, becomes he, attentively detached from all that is material, for sure his own protector.'

(43) The honorable brahmin said: 'Thus having decided to cut with the desperation that was caused by her desire for lovers, sat she down on her bed having found inner peace. (44) With the insight that the greatest unhappiness consists of a constant desire and that being free from expectations is of the contrary, slept Pingalâ happily now that she had given up to hanker for lovers.'

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 Second edition, loaded March 28 2009

 

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

 

Text 1

The honorable brahmin said: 'Since there is sensual happiness for as well those in heaven as for those in hell o King, and because there for all the embodied beings is also the unhappiness [as a logical consequence, reaction or shadow], should an intelligent person not desire such happiness [see B.G. 16: 16].

The honorable brahmin said: 'Since the embodied in heaven and hell surely too, o King, derive from the senses happiness as well as unhappiness, should the one who knows therefore not desire that [sensual experience, see also B.G. 16: 16]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

As inactive as a python should one eat what is acquired accidentally, whether it is much or little, tasteless or pure and delicious food [7.13: 37-38].

Like a python uncommitted should one eat what is acquired accidentally, whether it is much or little, tasteless or pure delicious food [7.13: 37-38]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

Fasting for many days should one keep one's peace and patiently wait when no food comes one's way, just like the python that eats what providence provides [7.15: 15].

For many days fasting should one abide when the food in waiting for the occasion doesn't come, just like the python eating what providence provides [7.15: 15]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

When one as well physically as mentally being strong maintains the body without much effort, is one peaceful and not sleepy. Even though one is capable of anything, should one [in that situation refrain] from endeavoring.

Strong, composed in sense and mind, carrying the body without fruitive action remains one peaceful and free from sleepiness; one shouldn't be of that [karmic] repeat, even though being in full command of the senses. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

A sage pleasing and grave, unfathomable, unlimited and unsurpassable [in his knowing] most surely is never disturbed like the calm waters of the ocean [see also B.G. 12: 15]

A sage pleasing and grave, unfathomable, unlimited and unsurpassable [in his knowing] most surely is never disturbed like the calm waters of the ocean [see also B.G. 12: 15]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

Destitute or flourishing with the desirable, does someone wise, with Nârâyana as the One Supreme, swell nor dry up, just like the ocean with the rivers [B.G. 2: 70].

Destitute or flourishing with the desirable, does a wise one, with Nârâyana as the One Supreme, swell nor dry up like the ocean doesn't with the rivers [being swollen or dried up, B.G. 2.70]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 7

Seeing a woman does he who didn't conquer his senses, tempted by that seductive illusory energy of God, blindly fall down into the darkness, just like a moth falls into the fire.

Seeing a woman does one who didn't conquer his senses, enticed with that seductive illusory energy of God, blind fall down into the darkness, just like a moth falls into the fire. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

Upon seeing the clothing, golden ornaments and so on of the women the way it is arranged by mâyâ, will a person lacking in discrimination with his desire for sense-gratification feel aroused by lusty desires and no doubt, the way a moth is destroyed, loose his spiritual insight [B.G. 2: 62-63].

Upon seeing the clothing, golden ornaments and so on of women as arranged by mâyâ, does a person of no discrimination aroused by lusty desires with the desire for sense-gratification no doubt, the way a moth is destroyed, find his intelligence ruined [B.G. 2.62-63]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

Eating little bits of food, just enough to keep the body alive, should one being wise practice [social] security [being of nonviolence] with the householders and thus be of the occupation of a honeybee [5.5: 3, 7.2: 11-13, 7.12: 6. 7.14: 5, 7.15: 15 and B.G. 4: 21].

Eating little bits of food enough to keep the body alive should one being wise practice [social] security [nonviolence] with the householders and thus be of the occupation of a honeybee [5.5: 3, 7.2: 11-13, 7.12: 6. 7.14: 5, 7.15: 15 and B.G. 4: 21]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

An intelligent human being should from the smallest as well as the biggest religious scriptures extract the essence, just like a honey bee does with all the flowers big and small [11.7: 23, B.G. 15: 15].

An intelligent man should from the smallest as well as the biggest religious scriptures take the essence, just like a honey bee does with all the flowers big and small [11.7: 23, B.G. 15: 15]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 11

Not being a collector like a honeybee is, should one with the belly as one's container and the hand as one's plate accept food in charity and not keep it for the night or the next day.

Not like the bee being a collector, should one with the belly as one's container and the hand as one's plate accept food in charity and not keep it for the night or the next day. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 12  

A mendicant should not store things for the night or the following day, because he otherwise like a honeybee collecting more and more will be lost.

Nor what's meant for the night nor what's meant for tomorrow should a mendicant accept, as like with the collecting of a honeybee that collection is destroyed. (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

A mendicant must not touch a girl, not even one of wood or with his foot, because he otherwise, like an elephant is captured by a she-elephant, will be captured by the physical contact.

A mendicant shouldn't touch a girl not even a one of wood or with his foot, since by the bodily contact one is captured like an elephant is captured with a she-elephant. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 14

Not to find death, should a man of wisdom never chase a woman, because he otherwise will find destruction the way an elephant is defeated by others superior in strength.

A man of wisdom should - death to himself - never chase a woman, as he'll be destroyed as an elephant [in competition] is by others superior in strength. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 15  

Riches by a greedy person accumulated with great difficulty are neither enjoyed personally nor given away to others; they are rather enjoyed by someone else who stumbles across the wealth and steals it the way one steals the honey from a beehive [see also 5.13: 10].

He who personally enjoys and not gives away what with great difficulty was accumulated, will to the contrary see that also others being greedy will enjoy that, just like the honey is that's stolen from the one appreciating a wealth of it [the bee, see also 5.13: 10]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

Just as a honey thief is the first one to enjoy the honey that painstakingly was collected, is also the ascetic the first one to enjoy the eagerly desired blessings of the wealth that with a lot of trouble was acquired by householders [see e.g. 1.19: 39 and 7.14: 17].

Like the honeythief is the ascetic before all others, sure to enjoy from those sworn to a household existence, the blessings of fervently desired domestic opulences acquired with the greatest trouble [see e.g. 1.19: 39 and 7.14: 17]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17  

A devotee living in the forest should never listen to worldly songs and music; one should learn that by the example of the deer that was captured being bewildered by the hunter's call [see the bhajans].

A devotee moving in the forest shouldn't ever listen to the worldly songs; one should learn it from the deer that was bound bewildered by the hunters song [see the bhajans]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 18

Taking pleasure in vulgar dancing, musical entertainment and such songs, fell Rishyas'ringa, the son of Mrigî, because he like a plaything was fully controlled by women [see *, 5.8 and 5.25: 11].

Taking pleasure in vulgar dancing, musical entertainment and such songs, fell Rishyas'ringa, the son of Mrigî , fully controlled as a plaything under the control of women [see * , 5.8 and 5.25: 11]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

The way a fish following its taste with no intelligence is hooked and finds its death, can also a person, disturbed by what the tongue dictates, against his better knowledge waste his life.

Like a fish that bewildered in attraction to the taste indeed by the hooks reaches its death, is of a person most easily, disturbed by the tongue, the intelligence rendered useless. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

The learned who are of selfrestraint quickly conquer the material senses, except however for the tongue, of which the taste for food increases with the fasting [see prasâdam prayer].

The learned in restraint quickly conquer the material senses except however for the tongue, to which the taste increases with the fasting [see prasâdam-prayer]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

As long as the tongue is not conquered can of a human being, despite of having conquered all the other senses, still not be said that he's of self-control; but he who has conquered the tongue, has conquered all [see also 8: 16 and B.G. 2: 59].

As long as the tongue is not conquered can of a human being, having conquered all the other senses, still not be said that he did conquer; but having the tongue conquered, he did conquer all [see also 8: 16 and B.G. 2: 59]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 22

In the city of Videha there used to be a prostitute called Pingalâ. Now learn from me o son of kings, what I learned from her.

In the past, in the city of Videha there was a prostitute called Pingalâ, now learn from me o son of Kings, the thing I learned from her. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 23

She as a prostitute stood one night, to get a customer into her house, outside in the doorway to display her beautiful figure.

She as a prostitute once at night, to get a customer into her house, stood outside in the doorway demonstrating her form of beauty. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 24

O best among men, motivated for the money regarded she all the men who passed by in the street as customers willing to pay the price.

The men with money she saw coming in that street, o best of men, did she, desiring the money, consider her lovers supposed to pay the price. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 25-26

As they came and went thought she, this way subsisting on selling her love: 'Maybe will some guy carrying plenty approach me for love and give me a lot'. With this vain hope not sleeping and leaning in the doorway, walking down the street and turning back to the house, it became midnight.

As they came and went thought she, living of selling her love: 'Maybe will another one carrying plenty approach me for love and give me a lot'; thus with vain hope disturbed in her sleep hanging in the doorway, walking down the street and turning back to the house it became midnight. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 27

Morose in her desire for money dropping her face, awakened in her anxiety that moment a supreme detachment which brought her happiness.

With her face drooping being morose of her desire for money, awakened in her anxiety a supreme detachment which brought her happiness. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 28

Detachment works like a sword cutting through the binding network of hopes and desires. Please listen to the song she sang after this change of heart.

Detachment is as sure as a sword to the binding network of hopes and desires; please listen to the song there was of her whose mind had turned against. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 29

Dear King, evidently a person who doesn't know how to turn away from the world will not be willing to give up what binds physically, just as a human being lacking in wisdom never desires to give up his sense of ownership.

My best, for sure will he who didn't develop detachment never want to give up the bondage of the material body, just as a human being bereft of wisdom won't give up his sense of ownership, o King. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 30

Pingalâ said: 'See how illusioned I am! I must be out of my mind imagining all this in my lust with a fake lover.

Pingalâ said: 'See the extend of the illusion of me, with a mind out of control, who's so foolish in the pursuit for being lusty with a poor lover. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 31

Having given up on the pleasure that belongs to Him, the One That is Most Near and Dear, was I, this ignoramus, most insignificantly of a service that, never taming the desire, brings misery, fear, distress, grief and illusion.

Giving up on the pleasure of Him, the One That is Most Near and Dear, was I, this ignoramus, so most insignificantly of a service that, never taming the desire, brings misery, fear, distress, grief and illusion. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 32

Oh how uselessly subjecting my soul to torture have I, busy as a prostitute - the most reprehensible of occupations - with my body desiring money and sexual pleasure, been selling out to womanizers who, lusting for my body, are lamentable themselves.

Oh how uselessly subjecting my soul to torture have I, busy as a prostitute - the most reprehensible of occupations - with my body desiring money and sexual pleasure, been selling out to womanizers who, greedy after me, are lamentable themselves. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 33

What other woman would devote herself this much to this house with nine doors which, constructed with the support of the bones of a spine, the ribs, the hands and legs and covered by a skin, hair and nails, is full of stool and drips urine [compare B.G. 5: 13 and 4.25-28]?

What other woman besides me would devote herself to this house with nine doors which, constructed with the bones of a spine, the ribs, the hands and legs and covered by a skin and hair and nails, full of stool is dripping urine [compare B.G. 5:13 and 4.25-28]? (Vedabase)

 

 Text 34

Among the residents of Videha am I the one of an intelligence that is really perplexed, for I am the one who most unchaste desires to please her senses with another man different from Him who gives us Soul, Acyuta.

Of the residents of Videha am I the one that with the intelligence is really perplexed, as I am the one who most unchaste desires sense-pleasure with another man but Him Who Gives Us Soul, Acyuta. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 35

By paying the price of giving myself to Him, the well-wisher that's absolutely the one most dear, the Lord and Soul of all who are embodied; I will for certain enjoy like Ramâ.

The well-wisher that's absolutely the most dear, the Lord and Soul He is of all embodied; by paying the price of giving myself to Him, will I for sure enjoy like Ramâ. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 36

How much real happiness have the sensual pleasure and the men who satisfied my senses provided? To have an eye on a wife or the gods [even] has all, spread over time, a beginning and an end.

How much actual happiness has the sensual pleasure and those men satisfying my senses provided; to have a wife and gods [even] has all, spread by time, a beginning and an end. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 37

The person of me so desperate must therefore somehow have pleased the Supreme Lord Vishnu who brings the happiness that I now experience with my having forsaken the sense gratification!

This one so desperate must therefore with some action of detachment from sense-gratification have pleased the Supreme Lord of Vishnu bringing the happiness rising in me! (Vedabase)

 

 Text 38

A woman who is really unfortunate wouldn't have to face this kind of hindrances on the path of selfrealization, because they lead a person to shake off the detachment and find [real] peace.

With a woman really unfortunate wouldn't those miseries exist, these causes of detachment of which a person shaking of the bondage obtains [real] peace. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 39

Now that I refrain from cherishing false hope in relation to sexual intercourse, do I, with accepting upon my head the great help He offers, seek Him the Original Controller for my refuge.

Giving up the vain hope in connection with the sexual intercourse am I now, accepting upon my head the great help offered by Him, coming for shelter to Him the Original Controller. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 40

Happily convinced without reservation that I thus will be able to cope with whatever comes my way, I will manage to appreciate it to live with only the One, the Self of Love and the Happiness free from doubt.

Contented in full faith with that living with whatever comes my way, will I enjoy life with that One only, the Self of Love and Happiness undoubted. (Vedabase)

 

  Text 41

Who else but the Original Controller, who is capable of delivering the living being that is seized by the timeserpent, would there be when one like me in pleasing the senses is bereft of all insight and fell down in the dark well of the material ocean [see also 10.34]?

Fallen in the dark well of the material ocean with my vision stolen in the pleasing of the senses, who else but the Original Controller is capable of delivering the living being seized by the timeserpent [see also 10.34]? (Vedabase)

 

 Text 42

When the self thus can behold the universe as being seized by the timeserpent, becomes he, attentively detached from all that is material, for sure his own protector.'

When the self thus can behold the universe as seized by the timeserpent, becomes he, vigilant detached from all the matter, for sure his own protector.' (Vedabase)

 

 Text 43

The honorable brahmin said: 'Thus having decided to cut with the desperation that was caused by her desire for lovers, sat she down on her bed having found inner peace.

The honorable brahmin said: 'Thus having decided to cut with the desperation caused by the desiring for lovers sat she down on her bed having found the inner peace. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 44

With the insight that the greatest unhappiness consists of a constant desire and that being free from expectations is of the contrary, slept Pingalâ happily now that she had given up to hanker for lovers.''

The greatest unhappines for sure the desiring for, and the greatest happiness the non-expecting; that way having shun the hankering for lovers, Pingalâ slept happy.' (Vedabase)

 

*: Rishyas'ringa, meaning 'deer-horn' to the deer that is musically attracted, was the young son of the sage Mrigî, intentionally brought up by his father in an atmosphere of complete innocence. Mrigî Rishi thought that if his son were never exposed to the sight of women he would always remain a perfect brahmacârî. But by chance the inhabitants of the neighboring kingdom, who were suffering from a long-term drought, received divine advice that rain would return to their kingdom only after the brâhmana named Rishyas'ringa stepped foot in it. Therefore they sent beautiful women to the hermitage of Mrigî to entice Rishyas'ringa and bring him back with them. Since Rishyas'ringa had never even heard about women, he easily fell for their trap [quoted from pp 11.8: 18].

 

 

 

 

 

 

For this original translation was used the Vedabase of the BBT offering the work
that Svâmi Prabhupâda's pupils did to complete his translation of the Bhâgavatam.
See the
S'rîmad Bhâgavatam links-page.
The painting is titled: 'Vishwamitra and Menaka" and is of
Raja Ravi Varma.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


 

 

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