Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.20.36
Ūti· What drives us to actDwelling on Beauty Agitates Desire
“O beautiful woman, when you strike the bouncing ball against the ground with your hand again and again, your lotus feet do not stay in one place. Oppressed by the weight of your full-grown breasts, your waist becomes fatigued, and your clear vision grows dull, as it were. Pray braid your comely hair.”
What the purport teaches
- The demons observed and praised the woman's gestures, hair, and bodily movements as she played. Their attention remained fixed on her physical beauty.
- As they enjoyed watching her, their minds became agitated by sexual desire. Each movement became another object of fascination.
- The purport compares them to moths surrounding a fire and being killed. The comparison warns that an attraction can harm those who surrender to it.
Try this today
If you notice yourself dwelling on someone's body today, gently turn your gaze away rather than prolonging the thought.
Ask yourself
When does my attention to physical beauty begin to disturb my mind?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.