176 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch.5
children: dpta—relatives; vittaih—and by wealth; janasya—of the
living being: mohah—illusion; ayam—this; aham—l; mama—mine;
iti—thus.
TRANSLATION

The attraction between male and female is the basic principle of
material existence. On the basis of this misconception, which ties
together the hearts of the male and female, one becomes attracted
to his body, home, property, children, relatives and wealth. In this
way one increases life’s illusions and thinks in terms of “I and
mine.”

PURPORT

Sex serves as the natural attraction between man and woman, and
when they are married, their relationship becomes more involved. Due to
the entangling relationship between man and woman, there is a sense of
illusion whereby one thinks, “This man is my husband,” or “This
woman is my wife.” This is called hrdaya-granthi, “the hard knot in the
heart.” This knot is very difficult to undo, even though a man and
woman separate either for the principles of varnasrama or simply to get
a divorce. In any case, the man always thinks of the woman, and the
woman always thinks of the man. Thus a person becomes materially at-
tached to family, property and children, although all of these are tempo-
rary. The possessor unfortunately identifies with his property and
wealth. Sometimes, even after renunciation, one becomes attached to a
temple or to the few things that constitute the property of a sannydsi, but
such attachment is not as strong as family attachment. The attachment to
the family is the strongest illusion. In the Satya-samhita, it is stated:

brahmadya yajnavalkadya
mucyante stri-sahayinah
bodhyante kecanaitesari
visesam ca vido viduh

Sometimes it is found among exalted personalities like Lord Brahma that
the wife and children are not a cause of bondage. On the contrary, the
