14 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 6

should go to the forest. Hitvatma-padtam grham andha-kipam. One
should give up his household, which is a place for going further and
further down into the darkest regions of material existence. The first ad-
vice, therefore, is that one must give up household life (grham andha-
kiipam). However, if one prefers to remain in the dark well of household
life because of uncontrolled senses, he becomes increasingly entangled
by ropes of affection for his wife, children, servants, house, money and
so on. Such a person cannot attain liberation from material bondage.
Therefore children should be taught from the very beginning of life to
be first-class brahmacaris. Then it will be possible for them to give up
household life in the future.

To return home, back to Godhead, one must be completely free from
material attachment. Therefore, bhakti-yoga means vairdgya-vidya, the
art that can help one develop a distaste for material enjoyment.

vasudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogah prayojitah

Janayaty dsu vairdgyam
jfianam ca yad ahaitukam

“By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Sri
Krsna, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment
from the world.” (Bhag. 1.2.7) If one engages in devotional service
from the beginning of life, he easily attains vairdgya-vidya, or asakti,
detachment, and becomes jitendriya, the controller of his senses. One
who perfectly engages in devotional service is therefore called gosvami or
svami, master of the senses. Unless one is master of the senses, he should
not accept the renounced order of life, sannydsa. A strong inclination for
sense enjoyment is the cause of the material body. Without full knowl-
edge one cannot be unattached to material enjoyment, but as long as one
is not in that position one is not fit to return home, back to Godhead.

TEXT 10

at avlaent frag sriteaisti a fea: |
q atreraft: tere: Brat aH Roll
