Canto 11: General HistoryChapter 16: The Lord's Opulence

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.16.43

yo vai vāń-manasī saḿyag

asaḿyacchan dhiyā yatiḥ

tasya vrataḿ tapo dānaḿ

sravaty āma-ghaṭāmbu-vat

SYNONYMS

yaḥ — one who; vai — certainly; vāk-manasī — the speech and mind; saḿyak — completely; asaḿyacchan — not controlling; dhiyā — by intelligence; yatiḥa transcendentalist; tasya — his; vratam — vows; tapaḥ — austerities; dānam — charity; sravati — run out; āma — unbaked; ghaṭain a pot; ambu-vat — like water.

TRANSLATION

A transcendentalist who does not completely control his words and mind by superior intelligence will find that his spiritual vows, austerities and charity flow away just as water flows out of an unbaked clay pot.

PURPORT

When a clay pot is properly baked it holds any liquid substance without leakage. If a clay pot is not properly baked, however, water or any other liquid within it will seep out and be lost. Similarly, a transcendentalist who does not control his speech and mind will find that his spiritual discipline and austerity gradually seep away and are lost. Dāna, or "charity," refers to work performed for the welfare of others. Those who are trying to give the highest charity by preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness should not engage in speaking cleverly for the satisfaction of beautiful women, nor should they attempt to become artificially intellectual simply for the sake of mundane academic prestige. One should not even think of intimate sexual relationships, nor should one daydream of acquiring a prestigious position. Otherwise, one's determination to strictly practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be lost, as described here. One must control the mind, senses and speech by higher intelligence so that one's life will be successful.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
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