Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 19.213

samo man-nishthata buddher

dama indriya-samyamah

titiksha duhkha-sammarsho

jihvopastha-jayo dhritih

SYNONYMS

samah -- neutrality; mat-nishthata -- attachment for Me; buddheh -- of intelligence; damah -- self-control; indriya-samyamah -- controlling the activities of the senses; titiksha -- tolerance; duhkha -- of unhappiness; sammarshah -- endurance; jihva -- tongue; upastha -- and the urge of the genitals; jayah -- conquering; dhritih -- control.

TRANSLATION

"'The word "sama" or "santa-rasa" indicates that one is attached to the lotus feet of Krishna. "Dama" means controlling the senses and not being deviated from the Lord's service. Endurance of unhappiness is "titiksha," and "dhriti" means controlling the tongue and the genitals.'

PURPORT

This verse is from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.19.36). The conditioned soul under the clutches of maya, the material energy, is very much agitated by the urges of the tongue and the genitals. Control of the urges of the tongue, the belly and the genitals (which are situated in a straight line) is called dhriti. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, tara madhye jihva ati, lobhamaya sudurmati. Among the senses, the tongue is the most formidable enemy of the conditioned soul. Urged by the tongue, one commits many sinful activities. Although Krishna has given human beings nice food, people still commit sins by killing poor animals for the satisfaction of the tongue. Not being able to control the tongue, the conditioned soul eats more than he needs. Of course, everyone must eat to keep the body fit for the Lord's service, but when one cannot control the senses, he falls victim to the dictations of the tongue and the belly. Naturally, genital agitation follows, and one seeks illicit sex. However, if one is fixed at the lotus feet of Krishna, he can control the tongue. Bhaktivinoda Thakura further states, krishna bada dayamaya, karibare jihva jaya, sva-prasada-anna dila bhai: in order to conquer the tongue, Krishna has been very merciful and has given us nice food that has been offered to Him. When a person is attached to Krishna's lotus feet, he does not eat anything not offered to Krishna. Sei annamrita khao, radha-krishna-guna gao, preme daka caitanya-nitai. Since a devotee eats only prasadam, he conquers the dictations of the tongue, belly and genitals. One can control the dictates of the senses when situated in the position of santa-rasa. Then one's advancement in Krishna consciousness is assured.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness