Text 30] — Prthu Maharaja’s Meeting with the Four Kumaras 927

indriyoih—by the senses; visaya—the sense objects; akrstath—being
attracted; aksiptam—agitated; dhyayatam—always thinking of; manah—
mind; cetanam—consciousness; harate—becomes lost; buddheh— of intelli-
gence; stambah—big straws; toyam—water; iva—like; hradat—frem the lake.

TRANSLATION

When one’s mind and senses are attracted to sense objects for enjoy-
ment, the mind becomes agitated. As a result of continually thinking of
sense objects, one’s real consciousness almost becomes lost, like the water
in a lake that is gradually sucked up by the big grass straws on its bank.

PURPORT

In this verse it is very nicely explained how our original Krgna con-
sciousness becomes polluted. Gradually we become almost completely
forgetful of our relationship with the Supreme Lord. In the previous verse
it is recommended that we should always keep in touch with the devotion-
al service of the Lord so that the blazing fire of devotional service can
gradually burn into ashes material desires and we can become liberated
from the repetition of birth and death. This is also how we can indirectly
keep our staunch faith in the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. When the mind is allowed to think of sense gratification con-
tinuously, it becomes the cause of our material bondage.If our mind is
simply filled with sense gratification, even though we want Krsna con-
sciousness, by continuous practice we cannot forget the subject matter of
sense gratification. If one takes up the sannyasa order of life but is not
able to control the mind, he will think of objects of sense gratification—
namely family, society, expensive house, etc. Even though he goes to the
Himalayas or the forest, his mind will continue thinking of the objects of
sense gratification. In this way, gradually one’s intelligence will be affected.
When intelligence is affected, one loses his original taste for Krsna con-
sciousness.

The example given here is very appropriate. If a big lake is covered all
around by long kusa grass, just like columns, the waters dry up. Similarly,
when the big columns of material desire increase, the clear water of con-
sciousness is dried up. Therefore these columns of kusa grass should be
cut or thrown away from the very beginning. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has
instructed that if from the very beginning we do not take care of unwant-
ed grass in the paddy fields, the fertilizing agents or water will be used by
them and the paddy plants will dry up. The material desire for sense en-
