The Avadhuta Brahmana's Teachers: The Python, the Bee, and Pingala's Renunciation

Verse 1 (bhagavata.11.8.1)

श्रीब्राह्मण उवाच सुखमैन्द्रियकं राजन् स्वर्गे नरक एव च । देहिनां यद् यथा दुःखं तस्मान्नेच्छेत तद् बुधः ॥ 8.1 ॥

śrī-brāhmaṇa uvāca sukham aindriyakaṁ rājan svarge naraka eva ca dehināṁ yad yathā duḥkhaṁ tasmān neccheta tad-budhaḥ

The brahmana said: O King, just as sensory happiness comes unsought to embodied beings in heaven or in hell, so too does sorrow; therefore the wise should not seek it.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.11.8.2)

ग्रासं सुमृष्टं विरसं महान्तं स्तोकमेव वा । यदृच्छयैवापतितं ग्रसेदाजगरोऽक्रियः ॥ 8.2 ॥

grāsaṁ su-mṛṣṭaṁ virasaṁ mahāntaṁ stokam eva vā yadṛcchayaivāpatitaṁ grased ājagaro ’kriyaḥ

Like the inactive python, one should eat whatever food comes of its own accord — delicious or tasteless, abundant or scant.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.11.8.3)

शयीताहानि भूरीणि निराहारोऽनुपक्रमः । यदि नोपनयेद् ग्रासो महाहिरिव दिष्टभुक् ॥ 8.3 ॥

śayītāhāni bhūrīṇi nirāhāro ’nupakramaḥ yadi nopanayed grāso mahāhir iva diṣṭa-bhuk

If food does not come, one should lie fasting for many days without effort, eating only what fate provides — like the great python.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.11.8.4)

ओजःसहोबलयुतं बिभ्रद् देहमकर्मकम् । शयानो वीतनिद्रश्च नेहेतेन्द्रियवानपि ॥ 8.4 ॥

ojaḥ-saho-bala-yutaṁ bibhrad deham akarmakam śayāno vīta-nidraś ca nehetendriyavān api

Maintaining a body full of vitality, endurance, and strength, yet without exertion, lying at rest and free from illusion, one should not strive even while possessing full command of the senses.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.11.8.5)

मुनिः प्रसन्नगम्भीरो दुर्विगाह्यो दुरत्ययः । अनन्तपारो ह्यक्षोभ्यः स्तिमितोद इवार्णवः ॥ 8.5 ॥

muniḥ prasanna-gambhīro durvigāhyo duratyayaḥ ananta-pāro hy akṣobhyaḥ stimitoda ivārṇavaḥ

A sage is serene and profound, unfathomable, unassailable, boundless, and undisturbed, like the ocean with its still waters.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.11.8.6)

समृद्धकामोहीनो वा नारायणपरो मुनिः । नोत्सर्पेत न शुष्येत सरिद्भिरिव सागरः ॥ 8.6 ॥

samṛddha-kāmo hīno vā nārāyaṇa-paro muniḥ notsarpeta na śuṣyeta saridbhir iva sāgaraḥ

Whether abounding in wealth or destitute, the sage devoted to Narayana neither swells nor dries up — like the ocean before its rivers.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.11.8.7)

दृष्ट्वा स्त्रियं देवमायां तद्भावैरजितेन्द्रियः । प्रलोभितः पतत्यन्धे तमस्यग्नौ पतङ्गवत् ॥ 8.7 ॥

dṛṣṭvā striyaṁ deva-māyāṁ tad-bhāvair ajitendriyaḥ pralobhitaḥ pataty andhe tamasy agnau pataṅga-vat

Seeing a woman, the Lord's own maya, one who has not conquered his senses, enticed by her ways, falls into blind darkness — like the moth into the flame.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.11.8.8)

योषिद्धिरण्याभरणाम्बरादि- द्रव्येषु मायारचितेषु मूढः । प्रलोभितात्मा ह्युपभोगबुद्ध्या पतङ्गवन्नश्यति नष्टदृष्टिः ॥ 8.8 ॥

yoṣid-dhiraṇyābharaṇāmbarādi- dravyeṣu māyā-raciteṣu mūḍhaḥ pralobhitātmā hy upabhoga-buddhyā pataṅga-van naśyati naṣṭa-dṛṣṭiḥ

The fool, entranced by a woman's golden ornaments, garments, and other objects — all fashioned of maya — his mind enticed with thoughts of enjoyment and his sight destroyed, perishes like the moth.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.11.8.9)

स्तोकं स्तोकं ग्रसेद् ग्रासं देहो वर्तेत यावता । गृहानहिंसन्नातिष्ठेद् वृत्तिं माधुकरीं मुनिः ॥ 8.9 ॥

stokaṁ stokaṁ grased grāsaṁ deho varteta yāvatā gṛhān ahiṁsann ātiṣṭhed vṛttiṁ mādhukarīṁ muniḥ

One should take only a little food at a time, just enough to sustain the body, causing no trouble to householders, following the bee's mode of livelihood.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.11.8.10)

अणुभ्यश्च महद्भ्यश्च शास्त्रेभ्यः कुशलो नरः । सर्वतः सारमादद्यात् पुष्पेभ्य इव षट्पदः ॥ 8.10 ॥

aṇubhyaś ca mahadbhyaś ca śāstrebhyaḥ kuśalo naraḥ sarvataḥ sāram ādadyāt puṣpebhya iva ṣaṭpadaḥ

A skillful man should take the essence from scriptures small and great alike, just as the bee takes it from flowers.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.11.8.11)

सायन्तनं श्वस्तनं वा न सङ्गृह्णीत भिक्षितम् । पाणिपात्रोदरामत्रो मक्षिकेव न सङ्ग्रही ॥ 8.11 ॥

sāyantanaṁ śvastanaṁ vā na saṅgṛhṇīta bhikṣitam pāṇi-pātrodarāmatro makṣikeva na saṅgrahī

One should not store up alms for the evening or for tomorrow, one's hand alone the plate, the belly alone the store — unlike the hoarding bee.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.11.8.12)

सायन्तनं श्वस्तनं वा न सङ्गृह्णीत भिक्षुकः । मक्षिका इव सङ्गृह्णन् सह तेन विनश्यति ॥ 8.12 ॥

sāyantanaṁ śvastanaṁ vā na saṅgṛhṇīta bhikṣukaḥ makṣikā iva saṅgṛhṇan saha tena vinaśyati

A mendicant should not hoard for evening or tomorrow; one who hoards like the bee is destroyed along with his hoard.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.11.8.13)

पदापि युवतीं भिक्षुर्न स्पृशेद् दारवीमपि । स्पृशन् करीव बध्येत करिण्या अङ्गसङ्गतः ॥ 8.13 ॥

padāpi yuvatīṁ bhikṣur na spṛśed dāravīm api spṛśan karīva badhyeta kariṇyā aṅga-saṅgataḥ

A mendicant should not touch even a wooden image of a young woman, even with his foot; by touching one, through contact with her body, he becomes bound, as the bull elephant is bound by the she-elephant.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.11.8.14)

नाधिगच्छेत् स्त्रियं प्राज्ञः कर्हिचिन्मृत्युमात्मनः । बलाधिकैः स हन्येत गजैरन्यैर्गजो यथा ॥ 8.14 ॥

nādhigacchet striyaṁ prājñaḥ karhicin mṛtyum ātmanaḥ balādhikaiḥ sa hanyeta gajair anyair gajo yathā

The wise should never approach a woman, who is death itself to the self; he will be destroyed by stronger rivals, as one bull elephant is destroyed by others.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.11.8.15)

न देयं नोपभोग्यं च लुब्धैर्यद् दुःखसञ्चितम् । भुङ्क्ते तदपि तच्चान्यो मधुहेवार्थविन्मधु ॥ 8.15 ॥

na deyaṁ nopabhogyaṁ ca lubdhair yad duḥkha-sañcitam bhuṅkte tad api tac cānyo madhu-hevārthavin madhu

What the greedy amass with such pain, neither given away nor enjoyed by themselves, another enjoys instead — as one skilled in wealth takes the honey, like the honey-thief.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.11.8.16)

सुदुःखोपार्जितैर्वित्तैराशासानां गृहाशिषः । मधुहेवाग्रतो भुङ्क्ते यतिर्वै गृहमेधिनाम् ॥ 8.16 ॥

su-duḥkhopārjitair vittair āśāsānāṁ gṛhāśiṣaḥ madhu-hevāgrato bhuṅkte yatir vai gṛha-medhinām

The wealth acquired with such great pain by householders longing for domestic blessings — the renunciant enjoys it first, like the honey-thief.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.11.8.17)

ग्राम्यगीतं न शृणुयाद् यतिर्वनचरः क्वचित् । शिक्षेत हरिणाद् बद्धान्मृगयोर्गीतमोहितात् ॥ 8.17 ॥

grāmya-gītaṁ na śṛṇuyād yatir vana-caraḥ kvacit śikṣeta hariṇād baddhān mṛgayor gīta-mohitāt

A forest-dwelling renunciant should never listen to worldly song; let him learn from the deer, bound by the hunter's song that had bewitched it.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.11.8.18)

नृत्यवादित्रगीतानि जुषन् ग्राम्याणि योषिताम् । आसां क्रीडनको वश्य ऋष्यशृङ्गो मृगीसुतः ॥ 8.18 ॥

nṛtya-vāditra-gītāni juṣan grāmyāṇi yoṣitām āsāṁ krīḍanako vaśya ṛṣyaśṛṅgo mṛgī-sutaḥ

Indulging in women's worldly dance, music, and song, even the sage Rishyashringa, son of a doe, became their plaything, wholly controlled.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.11.8.19)

जिह्वयातिप्रमाथिन्या जनो रसविमोहितः । मृत्युमृच्छत्यसद्बुद्धिर्मीनस्तु बडिशैर्यथा ॥ 8.19 ॥

jihvayāti-pramāthinyā jano rasa-vimohitaḥ mṛtyum ṛcchaty asad-buddhir mīnas tu baḍiśair yathā

A person bewildered by taste, his mind ill-fated, through the tongue's fierce agitation meets death — as the fish meets it through the hook.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.11.8.20)

इन्द्रियाणि जयन्त्याशु निराहारा मनीषिणः । वर्जयित्वा तु रसनं तन्निरन्नस्य वर्धते ॥ 8.20 ॥

indriyāṇi jayanty āśu nirāhārā manīṣiṇaḥ varjayitvā tu rasanaṁ tan nirannasya vardhate

The wise, by fasting, quickly conquer their senses — except the tongue, whose craving only grows in one who eats nothing.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.11.8.21)

तावज्जितेन्द्रियो न स्याद् विजितान्येन्द्रियः पुमान् । न जयेद् रसनं यावज्जितं सर्वं जिते रसे ॥ 8.21 ॥

tāvaj jitendriyo na syād vijitānyendriyaḥ pumān na jayed rasanaṁ yāvaj jitaṁ sarvaṁ jite rase

A man who has mastered every other sense cannot yet be called master of the senses until he has mastered the tongue; but when the tongue is mastered, all is mastered.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.11.8.22)

पिङ्गला नाम वेश्यासीद् विदेहनगरे पुरा । तस्या मे शिक्षितं किञ्चिन्निबोध नृपनन्दन ॥ 8.22 ॥

piṅgalā nāma veśyāsīd videha-nagare purā tasyā me śikṣitaṁ kiñcin nibodha nṛpa-nandana

Long ago, in the city of Videha, there lived a courtesan named Pingala; O prince, hear now what I learned from her.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.11.8.23)

सा स्वैरिण्येकदा कान्तं सङ्केत उपनेष्यती । अभूत् काले बहिर्द्वारे बिभ्रती रूपमुत्तमम् ॥ 8.23 ॥

sā svairiṇy ekadā kāntaṁ saṅketa upaneṣyatī abhūt kāle bahir dvāre bibhratī rūpam uttamam

That free-living woman, once, hoping to bring a lover to her chamber, stood at nightfall outside her door, displaying her exquisite beauty.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.11.8.24)

मार्ग आगच्छतो वीक्ष्य पुरुषान् पुरुषर्षभ । तान् शुल्कदान् वित्तवतः कान्तान् मेनेऽर्थकामुकी ॥ 8.24 ॥

mārga āgacchato vīkṣya puruṣān puruṣarṣabha tān śulka-dān vittavataḥ kāntān mene ’rtha-kāmukī

O best of men, watching the men passing on the road, she, greedy for wealth, took each wealthy one for a lover who would pay her price.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.11.8.25)

आगतेष्वपयातेषु सा सङ्केतोपजीविनी । अप्यन्यो वित्तवान् कोऽपि मामुपैष्यति भूरिदः ॥ 8.25 ॥

āgateṣv apayāteṣu sā saṅketopajīvinī apy anyo vittavān ko ’pi mām upaiṣyati bhūri-daḥ

As men came and went, she who lived by such assignations thought, "Perhaps some other wealthy man will yet come to me and give me much."

Verse 26 (bhagavata.11.8.26)

एवं दुराशया ध्वस्तनिद्रा द्वार्यवलम्बती । निर्गच्छन्ती प्रविशती निशीथं समपद्यत ॥ 8.26 ॥

evaṁ durāśayā dhvasta- nidrā dvāry avalambatī nirgacchantī praviśatī niśīthaṁ samapadyata

Thus, her sleep destroyed by vain hope, leaning at her doorway, going out and coming back in, midnight arrived.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.11.8.27)

तस्या वित्ताशया शुष्यद्वक्त्राया दीनचेतसः । निर्वेदः परमो जज्ञे चिन्ताहेतुः सुखावहः ॥ 8.27 ॥

tasyā vittāśayā śuṣyad- vaktrāyā dīna-cetasaḥ nirvedaḥ paramo jajñe cintā-hetuḥ sukhāvahaḥ

In her, whose face had grown haggard from longing for wealth, whose heart was wretched, there arose at last a supreme detachment — born of that very anxiety, yet bringing happiness.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.11.8.28)

तस्या निर्विण्णचित्ताया गीतं शृणु यथा मम । निर्वेद आशापाशानां पुरुषस्य यथा ह्यसिः ॥ 8.28 ॥

tasyā nirviṇṇa-cittāyā gītaṁ śṛṇu yathā mama nirveda āśā-pāśānāṁ puruṣasya yathā hy asiḥ

Hear now, as I heard it, the song of her whose heart had become detached; for detachment is, for a man, like a sword to the ropes of hope.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.11.8.29)

न ह्यङ्गाजातनिर्वेदो देहबन्धं जिहासति । यथा विज्ञानरहितो मनुजो ममतां नृप ॥ 8.29 ॥

na hy aṅgājāta-nirvedo deha-bandhaṁ jihāsati yathā vijñāna-rahito manujo mamatāṁ nṛpa

O King, one in whom detachment has not arisen does not wish to give up the body's bondage — just as a man devoid of true realization cannot give up his sense of "mine."

Verse 30 (bhagavata.11.8.30)

पिङ्गलोवाच अहो मे मोहविततिं पश्यताविजितात्मनः । या कान्तादसतः कामं कामये येन बालिशा ॥ 8.30 ॥

piṅgalovāca aho me moha-vitatiṁ paśyatāvijitātmanaḥ yā kāntād asataḥ kāmaṁ kāmaye yena bāliśā

Pingala said: Behold the extent of my delusion, my mind unconquered — I, a fool, desire pleasure from a worthless lover!

Verse 31 (bhagavata.11.8.31)

सन्तं समीपे रमणं रतिप्रदं वित्तप्रदं नित्यमिमं विहाय । अकामदं दुःखभयाधिशोक- मोहप्रदं तुच्छमहं भजेऽज्ञा ॥ 8.31 ॥

santaṁ samīpe ramaṇaṁ rati-pradaṁ vitta-pradaṁ nityam imaṁ vihāya akāma-daṁ duḥkha-bhayādhi-śoka- moha-pradaṁ tuccham ahaṁ bhaje ’jñā

Forsaking Him, ever near, my true beloved, giver of real love and eternal riches, I, in my ignorance, serve instead the trivial — one who cannot fulfill desire, who gives only sorrow, fear, anxiety, grief, and delusion.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.11.8.32)

अहो मयात्मा परितापितो वृथा साङ्केत्यवृत्त्यातिविगर्ह्यवार्तया । स्त्रैणान्नराद् यार्थतृषोऽनुशोच्यात् क्रीतेन वित्तं रतिमात्मनेच्छती ॥ 8.32 ॥

aho mayātmā paritāpito vṛthā sāṅketya-vṛttyāti-vigarhya-vārtayā straiṇān narād yārtha-tṛṣo ’nuśocyāt krītena vittaṁ ratim ātmanecchatī

Alas, I have needlessly tormented my own soul, through this most reprehensible trade of assignation, desiring, by selling my body, wealth and pleasure from pitiable, wealth-thirsty, woman-chasing men.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.11.8.33)

यदस्थिभिर्निर्मितवंशवंश्य- स्थूणं त्वचा रोमनखैः पिनद्धम् । क्षरन्नवद्वारमगारमेतद् विण्मूत्रपूर्णं मदुपैति कान्या ॥ 8.33 ॥

yad asthibhir nirmita-vaṁśa-vaṁsya- sthūṇaṁ tvacā roma-nakhaiḥ pinaddham kṣaran-nava-dvāram agāram etad viṇ-mūtra-pūrṇaṁ mad upaiti kānyā

This house of a body — its spine and ribs and limb-bones as beams and pillars, wrapped over with skin, hair, and nails, its nine doors ever oozing, filled with stool and urine — what other woman but me could give herself to such a thing?

Verse 34 (bhagavata.11.8.34)

विदेहानां पुरे ह्यस्मिन्नहमेकैव मूढधीः । यान्यमिच्छन्त्यसत्यस्मादात्मदात् काममच्युतात् ॥ 8.34 ॥

videhānāṁ pure hy asminn aham ekaiva mūḍha-dhīḥ yānyam icchanty asaty asmād ātma-dāt kāmam acyutāt

In this very city of Videha, I alone am the fool — I who, unchaste, desired pleasure from another, forsaking that infallible Lord who gives even one's own self.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.11.8.35)

सुहृत् प्रेष्ठतमो नाथ आत्मा चायं शरीरिणाम् । तं विक्रीयात्मनैवाहं रमेऽनेन यथा रमा ॥ 8.35 ॥

suhṛt preṣṭhatamo nātha ātmā cāyaṁ śarīriṇām taṁ vikrīyātmanaivāhaṁ rame ’nena yathā ramā

This same Lord is the truest friend, the dearest of all, the very Self of every embodied being; selling myself to Him alone, I shall find joy in Him, as Rama [Lakshmi] does.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.11.8.36)

कियत् प्रियं ते व्यभजन् कामा ये कामदा नराः । आद्यन्तवन्तो भार्याया देवा वा कालविद्रुताः ॥ 8.36 ॥

kiyat priyaṁ te vyabhajan kāmā ye kāma-dā narāḥ ādy-antavanto bhāryāyā devā vā kāla-vidrutāḥ

How much real joy have they ever given — those desires, those men who grant desire, all of them with a beginning and an end, swept away by time, no less than the gods, to any wife?

Verse 37 (bhagavata.11.8.37)

नूनं मे भगवान् प्रीतो विष्णुः केनापि कर्मणा । निर्वेदोऽयं दुराशाया यन्मे जातः सुखावहः ॥ 8.37 ॥

nūnaṁ me bhagavān prīto viṣṇuḥ kenāpi karmaṇā nirvedo ’yaṁ durāśāyā yan me jātaḥ sukhāvahaḥ

Surely the Lord Vishnu has been pleased with me for some deed of mine, since this detachment, bringing such happiness, has arisen in me who so stubbornly hoped.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.11.8.38)

मैवं स्युर्मन्दभाग्यायाः क्लेशा निर्वेदहेतवः । येनानुबन्धं निर्हृत्य पुरुषः शममृच्छति ॥ 8.38 ॥

maivaṁ syur manda-bhāgyāyāḥ kleśā nirveda-hetavaḥ yenānubandhaṁ nirhṛtya puruṣaḥ śamam ṛcchati

Sufferings that give rise to such detachment, through which a person casts off bondage and attains peace, could not befall one who is truly unfortunate.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.11.8.39)

तेनोपकृतमादाय शिरसा ग्राम्यसङ्गताः । त्यक्त्वा दुराशाः शरणं व्रजामि तमधीश्वरम् ॥ 8.39 ॥

tenopakṛtam ādāya śirasā grāmya-saṅgatāḥ tyaktvā durāśāḥ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi tam adhīśvaram

Accepting with bowed head this favor done to me by Him, and giving up my base desires bound to worldly pleasure, I now go for shelter to that Supreme Lord.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.11.8.40)

सन्तुष्टा श्रद्दधत्येतद्यथालाभेन जीवती । विहराम्यमुनैवाहमात्मना रमणेन वै ॥ 8.40 ॥

santuṣṭā śraddadhaty etad yathā-lābhena jīvatī viharāmy amunaivāham ātmanā ramaṇena vai

Content, with full faith in this, living on whatever comes to me, I shall now find my joy in Him alone, the Self who is my true beloved.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.11.8.41)

संसारकूपे पतितं विषयैर्मुषितेक्षणम् । ग्रस्तं कालाहिनात्मानं कोऽन्यस्त्रातुमधीश्वरः ॥ 8.41 ॥

saṁsāra-kūpe patitaṁ viṣayair muṣitekṣaṇam grastaṁ kālāhinātmānaṁ ko ’nyas trātum adhīśvaraḥ

Who else but the Supreme Lord could save the soul, fallen into the well of worldly existence, its sight stolen by sense-objects, seized by the serpent of time?

Verse 42 (bhagavata.11.8.42)

आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो गोप्ता निर्विद्येत यदाखिलात् । अप्रमत्त इदं पश्येद् ग्रस्तं कालाहिना जगत् ॥ 8.42 ॥

ātmaiva hy ātmano goptā nirvidyeta yadākhilāt apramatta idaṁ paśyed grastaṁ kālāhinā jagat

The self alone is the self's own protector, when it grows detached from everything, and, no longer deluded, sees this world as seized by the serpent of time.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.11.8.43)

श्रीब्राह्मण उवाच एवं व्यवसितमतिर्दुराशां कान्ततर्षजाम् । छित्त्वोपशममास्थाय शय्यामुपविवेश सा ॥ 8.43 ॥

śrī-brāhmaṇa uvāca evaṁ vyavasita-matir durāśāṁ kānta-tarṣa-jām chittvopaśamam āsthāya śayyām upaviveśa sā

The brahmana said: Thus, her mind resolved, having cut off the vain desire born of longing for a lover, and settled in tranquility, she sat down upon her bed.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.11.8.44)

आशा हि परमं दुःखं नैराश्यं परमं सुखम् । यथा सञ्छिद्य कान्ताशां सुखं सुष्वाप पिङ्गला ॥ 8.44 ॥

āśā hi paramaṁ duḥkhaṁ nairāśyaṁ paramaṁ sukham yathā sañchidya kāntāśāṁ sukhaṁ suṣvāpa piṅgalā

Hope indeed is the greatest sorrow, and freedom from hope the greatest joy; thus, cutting off her longing for a lover, Pingala slept happily.