34 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 1

bhayam—fear; pramattasya—of one who is bewildered; vanesu—in
forests; api—even; syat—there must be; yatah—because; sah—he (one
who is not self-controlled); dste—is existing; saha—with; sat-sapat-
nah—six co-wives; jita-indriyasya —for one who has already conquered
the senses; dtma-rateh—self-satisfied; budhasya—for such a learned
man; grha-asramah—household life; kim—what; nu—indeed; karoti—
can do; avadyam—harm.

TRANSLATION

Even if he goes from forest to forest, one who is not self-
controlled must always fear material bondage because he is living
with six co-wives—the mind and knowledge-acquiring senses.
Even householder life, however, cannot harm a self-satisfied,
learned man who has conquered his senses.

PURPORT

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has sung, grhe va vanete thake, ‘ha
gaurariga’ bale dake: whether one is situated in the forest or at home, if
he is engaged in the devotional service of Lord Caitanya, he is a liberated
person. Here this is also repeated. For one who has not controlled his
senses, going to the forest to become a so-called yogi is meaningless.
Because his uncontrolled mind and senses are going with him, he cannot
achieve anything, even by giving up household life and staying in the
forest. Formerly many mercantile men from the up-country of India
used to go to Bengal, and thus there is a familiar saying, “If you go to
Bengal, your fortune will go with you.” Our first concern, therefore.
should be to control the senses, and since the senses cannot be controlled
unless engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, our most important
duty is to engage the senses in devotional service. Hrsikena hrsikesa-
sevanar bhaktir ucyate: bhakti means engagement of the purified senses
in the service of the Lord.

Herein Lord Brahma indicates that instead of going to the forest with
uncontrolled senses, it is better and more secure to engage the senses in
the service of the Lord. Even household life can do no harm to a self-
controlled person acting in this way; it cannot force him into material
bondage. Srila Rapa Gosvami has further enunciated this position:
