Text 10] The Perfect Society: Four Spiritual Classes 65

nanu—certainly; agnih—the fire; pramadé—the woman (one who
bewilders the mind of man); ndma—the very name; ghrta-kumbha—a
pot of butter; samah—like; puman—a man; sutédm api—even one’s
daughter; rahah—in a secluded place; jahyat—one must not associate
with; anyad@—with other women also; ydévat—as much as; artha-krt—
required.

TRANSLATION

Woman is compared to fire, and man is compared to a butter pot.
Therefore a man should avoid associating even with his own
daughter in a secluded place. Similarly, he should also avoid asso-
ciation with other women. One should associate with women only
for important business and not otherwise.

PURPORT

If a butter pot and fire are kept together, the butter within the pot will
certainly melt. Woman is compared to fire, and man is compared to a
butter pot. However advanced one may be in restraining the senses, it is
almost impossible for a man to keep himself controlled in the presence of
a woman, even if she is his own daughter, mother or sister. Indeed, his
mind is agitated even if one is in the renounced order of life. Therefore,
Vedic civilization carefully restricts mingling between men and women.
If one cannot understand the basic principle of restraining association
between man and woman, he is to be considered an animal. That is the
purport of this verse.

TEXT 10

BIUAKAA «Wa ATaateaz: |
ad aaa faeaq att we eae: Moll

kalpayitvatmana yavad
abhasam idam isvarah

dvaitam tavan na viramet
tato hy asya viparyayah

kalpayitvé—ascertaining positively; dtmand—by self-realization;
yavat—as long as; abhdsam—reflection (of the original body and
