yasya yal lakṣaṇaṁ proktaṁ
My dear King! If a field is cultivated again and again, it becomes barren and unsuitable for germinating seeds. Whatever seeds are sown there are lost. Just as drops of ghee on a fire never extinguish the fire but a flood of ghee will, similarly, by excessive indulgence in lusty desires, the heart may become detached from such desires entirely.
Because it is impossible for a person with excessive material desires to give up desires by the rules of the Vedas, rather than forbid all enjoyment, one is allowed to enjoy with an honest heart, and detachment will take place eventually. Examples are Yayati and Saubhari. An example is given in two verses. After much cultivation sometimes the field is not suitable for germinating seeds any more. Sometimes, the seeds which are planted are destroyed by the acidic soil. The heart in which desire resides in abundance (kāma āśaya) as various impressions gradually becomes detached. Just as a blazing fir is not reduced by adding drops of ghee, but is extinguished by pouring a huge quantity of ghee on it, so indulging in a huge amount of enjoyment extinguishes the desire.
|| 7.11.35 ||
yasya yal lakṣaṇaṁ proktaṁ
puṁso varṇābhivyañjakam
yad anyatrāpi dṛśyeta
tat tenaiva vinirdiśet
If anyone shows the symptoms of being a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra, as described above, even if he has appeared in a different class, he should be designated according to those symptoms.
However, if a man designated by a particular varṇa shows the qualities of another varṇa, he should be classified according that other varṇa, and should be called by that name, such as brāhmaṇa. What is meant by “showing qualities” is showing general qualities like control of the sense and mind (for the brāhmaṇa for instance), not particular actions like performing sandhya rites. This means he should be given the respect like a brāhmaṇa. One should not say “Performing another’s dharma is dangerous” since attaining qualities like control of the senses and mind is not another’s dharma.
Thus ends the commentary on the Eleventh Chapter of the Seventh Canto of the Bhāgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance with the previous ācāryas.
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