Verse 2.94

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

न जातु कामः कामानामुपभोगेन शाम्यति ।
हविषा कृष्णवर्त्मैव भूय एवाभिवर्धते ॥ ९४ ॥

na jātu kāmaḥ kāmānāmupabhogena śāmyati |
haviṣā kṛṣṇavartmaiva bhūya evābhivardhate || 94 ||

Never is desire appeased by the enjoyment of desires; it only waxes stronger, like fire by clarified butter.—(94)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

That no longing for sensual objects should be entertained by reason of the teaching of the scriptures may rest aside for the present; in fact there is even apparent happiness proceeding from the cessation of desires. When sensual objects are enjoyed, they only tend to produce stronger desires. For instance, even after a man has eaten his fill, even to the distension of the stomach, and is fully satisfied, there is still a longing in his heart—‘why cannot I eat more?’—and it is only through sheer inability that he does not eat more. This shows that desire can never cease by enjoyment.

‘Desire’—longing.

‘Of Desires’—i.e., of things desired, longed for.

‘Enjoyment’—addiction to.

‘Is appeased’—ceases.

‘Stronger’—more and more..

‘By ghṛta’—by clarified butter.

‘Kṛṣṇavartmā’—Fire.

Longing is a form of pain; until one has experienced a certain taste, he has no longing for it.

This verso only describes the true state of things. It has been thus described—‘Whatever corns and grains, gold, cattle and women there are on the earth are not enough to satisfy a single person;—pondering over this, one should betake hi mself to tranquil restraint.’—(94)

 

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(Verses 93-95)

See Comparative notes for Verse 2.93.