Desire

svārthaṁ parārthaṁ vāprapta-prārthanecchā

svārthaṁ parārthaṁ vāprapta-prārthanecchā | sā cātma-manasoḥ samyogāt sukhādy-apekṣāt smṛty-apekṣād votpadyate | prayatna-smṛti-dharmādharma-hetuḥ | kāmo’bhilāṣaḥ rāgaḥ saṅkalpaḥ kāruṇyaṁ vairāgyam upadhā bhāva ity evam ādaya icchā-bhedāḥ | maithunecchā kāmaḥ | abhyavahārecchābhilāṣaḥ | punaḥ punar viṣayānurañjanecchā rāgaḥ | anāsanna-kriyecchā saṅkalpaḥ | svārtham anapekṣya para-duhkha-prahāṇecchā kāruṇyam | doṣa-darśanād viṣaya-tyāgecchā vairāgyam | para-vañcanecchā upadhā | antarnigūḍhecchā bhāvaḥ | cikīrṣā-jihīrṣety-ādi-kriyā-bhedād icchā-bhedā bhavanti ||
(Padārtha-dharma-saṅgraha: 126)

“A wish for an unattained object for one’s own sake or for another’s sake is [called] desire (icchā). This is produced by contact of the self and mind out of regard for pleasure (sukha) and so forth, or, out of regard for a memory (smṛti) and so forth. It is a cause of effort (pratyana), remembrance (smṛti), merit (dharma), and dermit (adharma). Lust (kāma), craving (abhilāṣa), attachment (rāga), resolve (saṅkalpa), compassion (kāruṇya), aversion (vairāgya), deceit (upadhā), intention (bhāva), and so forth are varieties of desire. Desire for copulation is [called] lust (kāma). Desire for eating is [called] craving (abhilāṣa). Desire for repeatedly enjoying an object is [called] attachment (rāga). Desire for a non-immediate action is [called] a resolve (saṅkalpa). Desire to remove the pain of another without regard for one’s own sake [i.e., without selfish interest] is [called] compassion (kāruṇya). Desire to avoid an object as a result observation of a fault [in the object] is [called] aversion (vairāgya). Desire to deceive another is [called] deceit (upadhā). Internally concealed desire is [called] intention (bhāva). Varieties of desire exist based on varieties of actions (kriyās), such as the desire to do and the desire to remove.”

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sukhaṁ tu jagatām eva kāmyaṁ dharmeṇa jāyate

sukhaṁ tu jagatām eva kāmyaṁ dharmeṇa jāyate |
adharma-janyaṁ duḥkhaṁ syāt pratikūlaṁ sacetasām ||
nirduḥkhatve sukhe cecchā taj-jñānād eva jāyate |
icchā tu tad-upāye syād iṣṭopāyatva-dhīr yadi ||
(Bhāṣa-pariccheda: 145–146)
“Pleasure (sukha), that which is the entire world’s object of desire, arises by means of merit (dharma). Pain (duḥkha), which is produced by demerit (adharma), shall be [defined as] that which is unpleasant (pratikūla) for all conscious beings. Desire for painlessness and pleasure arises specifically from knowledge of these, whereas desire shall come about for a means to these [i.e., to painlessness and pleasure] if there is awareness of [something’s] instrumentality to that which is desired [viz., painlessness and pleasure].”

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āvṛtaṁ jñānam etena jñānino nitya-vairiṇā

āvṛtaṁ jñānam etena jñānino nitya-vairiṇā |
kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya duṣpūreṇānalena ca ||
(Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 3.39)

“The knowledge [i.e., discernment] of the knower is covered by this perpetual enemy in the form of kāma, which is like an insatiable fire.”

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kiṁ durāpaṁ mayi prīte tathāpi vibudharṣabhāḥ

kiṁ durāpaṁ mayi prīte tathāpi vibudharṣabhāḥ |
mayy ekānta-matir nānyan matto vāñchati tattva-vit ||
na veda kṛpaṇaḥ śreya ātmano guṇa-vastu-dṛk |
tasya tān icchato yacched yadi so’pi tathā-vidhaḥ ||
svayaṁ niḥśreyasaṁ vidvān na vakty ajñāya karma hi |
na rāti rogiṇo’pathyaṁ vāñchato’pi bhiṣaktamaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 6.9.47–49)

“[Bhagavān Viṣṇu:] O best of the devatās! What is difficult to attain when I am pleased? [Nothing]. Still, a knower of the essence—one whose mind is one-pointed upon me—does not desire anything other than me. A pitiable seer of substance in [worldly] objects does not understand his own good. If at will someone shall give those [i.e., essenceless worldly objects] to him, [then] he too is of such sort [i.e., then that giver of worldly objects is also ignorant just like the desirer of them is]. One who has knowledge of the highest good himself certainly does not speak of karma to one who is ignorant. An excellent doctor does not administer that which is unsalutary for a patient even if [the patient is] desirous [of that].”

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nāsti tṛṣṇā-samaṁ duḥkhaṁ nāsti tyāga-samaṁ sukham

nāsti tṛṣṇā-samaṁ duḥkhaṁ nāsti tyāga-samaṁ sukham |
sarvān kāmān parityajya brahma-bhūyāya kalpate ||
(Unknown source)

“There is no suffering like desire. There is no satisfaction like renunciation. Completely relinquishing all desires, one becomes fit for the state of [i.e., experience of] Brahman.”

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prajahāti yadā kāmān sarvān pārtha mano-gatān

prajahāti yadā kāmān sarvān pārtha mano-gatān |
ātmany evātmanā tuṣṭaḥ sthita-prajñas tadocyate ||
(Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 2.55)

“O Pārtha, when one completely casts away all desires situated in the mind and is satisfied by the self [i.e., by the bliss of the self] in the self [i.e., in the restrained mind] alone, then one is said to be a sthita-prajña [i.e., ‘one of steady wisdom’].”

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vimuñcati yadā kāmān mānavo manasi sthitān

vimuñcati yadā kāmān mānavo manasi sthitān |
tarhy eva puṇḍarīkākṣa bhagavattvāya kalpate ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.10.9)

“O you of lotus eyes! When a human being completely casts away desires situated in the mind, only then does one become fit for Bhagavattva.”

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indriyāṇi manaḥ prāṇa ātmā dharmo dhṛtir matiḥ

indriyāṇi manaḥ prāṇa ātmā dharmo dhṛtir matiḥ |
hrīḥ śrīs tejaḥ smṛtiḥ satyaṁ yasya naśyanti janmanā ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.10.8)

“By the appearance of which [i.e., of desire], the senses, the mind, the vital air, the body, dharma, composure, intelligence, modesty, beauty, strength, remembrance, and truthfulness are lost.”

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duḥsaṅga kahi—kaitava ātma-vañcanā

duḥsaṅga kahi—kaitava ātma-vañcanā |
‘kṛṣṇa’-‘kṛṣṇa-bhakti’ vinu anya-kāmanā ||
(Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.2.24.100)

“We call deceit and self-deception, that is, desire for anything other than Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa-bhakti, wrong attachment (duḥsaṅga).”

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vimuktākhila-tarṣair yā muktir api vimṛgyate

vimuktākhila-tarṣair yā muktir api vimṛgyate |
yā kṛṣṇenātigopyāśu bhajadbhyo’pi na dīyate ||
sā bhukti-mukti-kāmatvāc chuddhāṁ bhaktim akurvatām |
hṛdaye sambhavaty eṣāṁ kathaṁ bhāgavatī ratiḥ ||
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.3.42–43)

“That which is sought even by the liberated who are completely free from all [extraneous] desires, which is highly confidential and [which is] not given by Kṛṣṇa quickly even to worshippers [of himself]—how can [that] rati for Bhagavān appear in the heart of those who do not perform pure bhakti on account of being possessed of desire for enjoyment or liberation?”

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