मात्रा स्वस्रा दुहित्रा वा नाविविक्तासनो भवेत् ।
बलवानिन्द्रियग्रामो विद्वांसमपि कर्षति ॥
mātrā svasrā duhitrā vā nāviviktāsano bhavet |
balavān indriya-grāmo vidvāṁsam api karṣati ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 9.19.17)
“One should not have a seat that is unseparated from [even] one’s mother, sister, or daughter. The powerful multitude of senses pulls upon even a knowledgable person.”
Commentary
strī-sannidhānaṁ tu sarvathā tyājyam ity āha—mātreti | aviviktaṁ saṅkīrṇam āsanaṁ yasya saḥ | karṣaty ākarṣati |
(Bhāvārtha-dīpikā)
“Nearness to women is verily to be shunned in all respects. Thus he speaks this verse (mātrā …). One should not have a seat that is unseparated, that is, joined with [even one’s mother and so forth]. Karṣati means pulls upon.”
kim utānyayā tathā kim utāvidvān iti kaimutyaṁ sūcitam |
(Excerpt from the Bhāvārtha-dīpikā-prakāśa)
“The a fortiori reasoning, ‘Much less others,’ and ‘All the more one who is not knowledgable’ is intimated [i.e., one should not sit unseparated even from one’s mother, sister, or daughter, much less other women (since one’s mother, sister, and daughter are least likely to be objects of lust), the reason being that the powerful senses pull upon even a knowledgable person, and all the more upon one who is not knowledgable].”
balavān indriyāṇāṁ grāmaḥ samūho vidvāṁsaṁ vivekinam api karṣati strī-sannidhāne tad-darśana-sparśanādau pravartayanīty arthaḥ |
(Excerpt from the Anvitārtha-prāśikā-ṭīkā)
“The powerful multitude (grāmaḥ) of senses pulls upon even a knowledgable person, that is, one who has discernment (viveka), meaning, near women [the multitude of senses] incites observing them, touching [them], and so forth.”
Śrī Vīrarāghava Ācārya comments that ‘pulls upon’ (karṣati) means can pull upon, that is, can cause to waver (unsettle, disturb, etc.) (ākarśec cālayed ity arthaḥ).
kiṁ ca, strī-viṣayaḥ kāmas tu sadācāreṇaiva śāmyatīti sadācāraṁ darśayati—mātreti | aviviktam apṛthag-bhūtam āsanaṁ yasya saḥ | vidvāṁsam apy ākarṣati |
(Sārārtha-darśinī-ṭīkā)
“Furthermore, desire the object of which is women is extinguished only by proper conduct (sadācāra). Thus, he shows the proper conduct: mātrā … [i.e., he speaks this verse]. One should not have a seat that is unseparated, that is, not situated apart [even from one’s mother and so forth]. [The powerful multitude of senses] Pulls upon even a knowledgable person.”