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One can never tell whether this body belongs to one's parents, wife, employer, fire (of one's funeral), dogs, vultures, oneself or one's friends. Even then, one gets attached to this unholy matter and praises it, especially in case of a woman, for having such a cute nose, beautiful smile and face. And by doing so one heads with it for the lowest destination of decay. For, there is no difference between a worm and the one who enjoys what is composed of skin, flesh, blood, tendon, fat, muscle, marrow, bone, urine, stool and pus.<ref name=":0" /> <blockquote>त्वङ्‌मांसरुधिरस्नायु मेदोमज्जास्थिसंहतौ । विण्मूत्रपूये रमतां कृमीणां कियदन्तरम् ॥ २१ ॥<ref name=":3" />  

One can never tell whether this body belongs to one's parents, wife, employer, fire (of one's funeral), dogs, vultures, oneself or one's friends. Even then, one gets attached to this unholy matter and praises it, especially in case of a woman, for having such a cute nose, beautiful smile and face. And by doing so one heads with it for the lowest destination of decay. For, there is no difference between a worm and the one who enjoys what is composed of skin, flesh, blood, tendon, fat, muscle, marrow, bone, urine, stool and pus.<ref name=":0" /> <blockquote>त्वङ्‌मांसरुधिरस्नायु मेदोमज्जास्थिसंहतौ । विण्मूत्रपूये रमतां कृमीणां कियदन्तरम् ॥ २१ ॥<ref name=":3" />  

tvaṅ‌māṁsarudhirasnāyu medomajjāsthisaṁhatau । viṇmūtrapūye ramatāṁ kr̥mīṇāṁ kiyadantaram ॥ 21 ॥ </blockquote>Therefore, a man who understands what's best for him should never run after women or associate with men thus engaged. Because, the mind united with the senses reaches for sense objects and thus, gets agitated. However, a thing not heard of or seen gives no rise to mental agitation. Therefore, the mind of someone not engaging his senses becomes fixed and pacified. Moreover, even wise men cannot rely on the six enemies viz. lust, anger, greed, bewilderment, intoxication and envy known as the Ari-Shad Varga. One should therefore, not get sensorily attached to women or to men attached to women [see also yoṣita].<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>तस्मात्सङ्गो न कर्तव्यः स्त्रीषु स्त्रैणेषु चेन्द्रियैः । विदुषां चाप्यविस्रब्धः षड्वर्गः किमु मादृशाम् ॥ २४ ॥<ref name=":3" />

tvaṅ‌māṁsarudhirasnāyu medomajjāsthisaṁhatau । viṇmūtrapūye ramatāṁ kr̥mīṇāṁ kiyadantaram ॥ 21 ॥ </blockquote>Therefore, a man who understands what's best for him should never run after women or associate with men thus engaged. Because, the mind united with the senses reaches for sense objects and thus, gets agitated. However, a thing not heard of or seen gives no rise to mental agitation. Therefore, the mind of someone not engaging his senses becomes fixed and pacified. Moreover, even wise men cannot rely on the six enemies viz. lust, anger, greed, bewilderment, intoxication and envy known as the Ari-Shad Varga. One should therefore, not get sensorily attached to women or to men attached to women.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>तस्मात्सङ्गो न कर्तव्यः स्त्रीषु स्त्रैणेषु चेन्द्रियैः । विदुषां चाप्यविस्रब्धः षड्वर्गः किमु मादृशाम् ॥ २४ ॥<ref name=":3" />

tasmātsaṅgo na kartavyaḥ strīṣu straiṇeṣu cendriyaiḥ । viduṣāṁ cāpyavisrabdhaḥ ṣaḍvargaḥ kimu mādr̥śām ॥ 24 ॥</blockquote>Infact, it is stated in 5th Canto of the Bhagavata Purana that according to the wise, service rendered to great people is the gate to mukti, while association with those who are attached to women, is the entrance to tamas or samsara. It is indeed those who are of balanced mind, serene and composed, free from anger, friendly and righteous that are really great.<ref>The Bhagavata Purana ([https://estudantedavedanta.net/The-Bhagavata-Purana-Part-2.pdf Part 2]), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref><blockquote>महत्सेवां द्वारमाहुर्विमुक्तेस्तमोद्वारं योषितां सङ्गिसङ्गम् । महान्तस्ते समचित्ताः प्रशान्ता विमन्यवः सुहृदः साधवो ये ॥ २ ॥<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 5, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 5].</ref>

tasmātsaṅgo na kartavyaḥ strīṣu straiṇeṣu cendriyaiḥ । viduṣāṁ cāpyavisrabdhaḥ ṣaḍvargaḥ kimu mādr̥śām ॥ 24 ॥</blockquote>Infact, it is stated in 5th Canto of the Bhagavata Purana that according to the wise, service rendered to great people is the gate to mukti, while association with those who are attached to women, is the entrance to tamas or samsara. It is indeed those who are of balanced mind, serene and composed, free from anger, friendly and righteous that are really great.<ref>The Bhagavata Purana ([https://estudantedavedanta.net/The-Bhagavata-Purana-Part-2.pdf Part 2]), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref><blockquote>महत्सेवां द्वारमाहुर्विमुक्तेस्तमोद्वारं योषितां सङ्गिसङ्गम् । महान्तस्ते समचित्ताः प्रशान्ता विमन्यवः सुहृदः साधवो ये ॥ २ ॥<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 5, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 5].</ref>

=== सत्सङ्गतिः ॥ Good Association ===

=== सत्सङ्गतिः ॥ Good Association ===

Bhagavan states that Pururavas who spoke the Aila Gita then shook off the delusion through knowledge, realised the Supreme Being and attained the bliss of Self-realisation.<ref name=":1" /> He advices that (26) an intelligent person, having abandoned bad company should associate himself with the righteous and the wise, for only their company can cut off the deep attachment of one's mind.<ref name=":0" />

Bhagavan states that Pururavas who spoke the Aila Gita then shook off the delusion through knowledge, realised the Supreme Being and attained the bliss of Self-realisation.<ref name=":1" /> He advices that an intelligent person, having abandoned bad company should associate himself with the righteous and the wise, for only their company can cut off the deep attachment of one's mind.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>ततो दुःसङ्गमुत्सृज्य सत्सु सज्जेत बुद्धिमान् । सन्त एवास्य छिन्दन्ति मनोव्यासङ्गमुक्तिभिः ॥ २६ ॥<ref name=":3" />

To emphasize the benefits of associating with good people, Bhagavan explains their characteristics. He says,

tato duḥsaṅgamutsr̥jya satsu sajjeta buddhimān । santa evāsya chindanti manovyāsaṅgamuktibhiḥ ॥ 26 ॥</blockquote>To emphasize the benefits of associating with good people, Bhagavan explains their characteristics. He says,

The wise desire nothing. They are independent and do not accept any gifts. They devote their mind to the Supreme, have a calm mind and visualise the Supreme equally everywhere. They are free from the notions of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’ and are beyond the pairs of opposites. They are free from attachments of any kind.

The wise desire nothing. They are independent and do not accept any gifts. They devote their mind to the Supreme, have a calm mind and visualise the Supreme equally everywhere. They are free from the notions of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’ and are beyond the pairs of opposites. They are free from attachments of any kind.

Also, they constantly talk of the Supreme Being and by virtue of listening to talks or stories about the Supreme Being (from them), one is completely absolved from their papas. For, those who listen to talks or stories about the Supreme Being with sincerity, reverence and faith in their efficacy, sing them and are delighted in them, become attached to the Supreme Being and attain faith and devotion to Him. And once devotional service unto the Supreme Being, the embodiment of knowledge and bliss, is achieved, there remains nothing else to be accomplished by one.

Also, they constantly talk of the Supreme Being and by virtue of listening to talks or stories about the Supreme Being (from them), one is completely absolved from their papas. For, those who listen to talks or stories about the Supreme Being with sincerity, reverence and faith in their efficacy, sing them and are delighted in them, become attached to the Supreme Being and attain faith and devotion to Him. And once devotional service unto the Supreme Being, the embodiment of knowledge and bliss, is achieved, there remains nothing else to be accomplished by one.<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>ता ये श्रृण्वन्ति गायन्ति ह्यनुमोदन्ति चादृताः । मत्पराः श्रद्दधानाश्च भक्तिं विन्दन्ति ते मयि ॥ २९ ॥

The wise who have realised Brahman are the supreme resort for those who rise and fall (take higher and lower births) in the fearful ocean of Samsara like a strong life boat to those drowning in water [compare 11.23: 28 and 11.17: 44].

bhaktiṁ labdhavataḥ sādhoḥ kimanyad avaśiṣyate । mayyanantaguṇe brahmaṇyānandānubhavātmani ॥ 30 ॥</blockquote>Elaborating further on the importance of Satsangati, Bhagavan says,

While the Sun, having risen, bestows only one external eye on people, the wise bestow on them many eyes (internal) i.e., many ways of attaining knowledge. Thus, the wise are the veritable deities and true friends; They are the Supreme Being, the Atman<ref name=":1" /> [see also e.g. 1.1: 15, 3.5: 47, 3.6: 28, 11.2: 6].

Just as cold, fear and darkness leave the one who resorts to Agni, similarly, ignorance, fear of death and all other evils run away from the one who associates, worships and lives with the wise. Infact, the wise who have realised Brahman are the supreme resort for those who rise and fall ie. take higher and lower births in the fearful ocean of Samsara like a strong life boat to those drowning in water. And unlike the Sun that bestows only one external eye on people after having risen, the wise bestow on them many eyes (internal) i.e., many ways of attaining knowledge. Thus, the wise are the veritable deities and true friends; They are the Supreme Being, the Atman.<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>यथोपश्रयमाणस्य भगवन्तं विभावसुम् । शीतं भयं तमोऽप्येति साधून् संसेवतस्तथा ॥ ३१ ॥

It is said that Pururavas or Aila, (35) for this very reason abandoned his desire for the world of Urvashi. And then, liberated from all attachment, wandered the earth being innerly satisfied.<ref name=":0" />

 

 

 

 

It is said that Pururavas or Aila, for this very reason abandoned his desire for the world of Urvashi. And then, liberated from all attachment, wandered the earth being innerly satisfied.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==

== References ==