Gyaneshwari -Sant Gyaneshwar
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Chapter-18
Release
38. That which arises from the contact of the senses with their object, which is like nectar at first but like poison in the end, that happiness is known to be of rajas quality. When the senses come into contact with the sense-objects, the rajasic happiness overflows on both banks. Just as people celebrate the visit of a high officer to their village, or a wedding is celebrated by incurring a heavy debt (791-795), or bananas and sugar taste sweet to a patient, though he is prohibited from eating them, or the poisonous root when in the mouth tastes sweet, so the contact of senses with their sense-objects gives pleasure at first, like the friendship of a polished thief, or the behaviour of a harlot or a mummer’s performance. But that pleasure comes to an end and the wealth of merit, which he had earned dries up, ending with the loss of life much in the same way as the swan, mistaking the reflections of the stars in water as gems, makes a swoop to seize them and dashing against a rock, loses its life. Then all his sensual enjoyments vanish as if it was all a dream and all that remains for him to do is to rot in the ditch of pain (796-800). Thus this pleasure terminates in misfortune and becomes toxic even in the next world. When the senses are fondled by making over to them the orchard of religious merle, they destroy the religious merit and offer instead the festive sensuous enjoyments. In this way sins, getting stronger, take such persons to hell. Thus worldly pleasures cause harm in the other world. Although poison is called mahur ie. sweet, it becomes fatal in the end and reveals its true nature. Thus worldly pleasure, which tastes sweet in the beginning, proves bitter in the end. This pleasure, O Partha, is formed of the rajas quality; so take care not to touch it even with a long pole (801-805).
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