Srimad Bhagavadgita -Ramsukhdas 290

Srimad Bhagavadgita Sadhaka Sanjivani -Swami Ramsukhdas

Chapter 3 Therefore, a striver should renounce desires. Desires are of four kinds: Desires which satisfy necessities of life. Desire which is personal and just, but is beyond our power. Such a desire should be rooted out, by offering it to God. Satisfy the just desire of others for their welfare and within our power to satisfy. Thus by satisfying the desires of others, we get strength to renounce our own. Other desires, besides, the above-mentioned ones, which can be rooted out, by reflection. Mahasano mahapapma:-Desire is such an enemy, that is not satiated by, sense-enjoyments. Tulasidasa in Vinaya Patrika declares, "This fire of desire is never extinguished by the churned-butter of sense-enjoyments" (198). As desire for prosperity, is never satisfied, similarly, the desire for sense-enjoyments, is never satisfied, but rather strengthened. So, it has been called, all devouring, and most sinful, because it is the root of all sinful actions, such as theft, robbery and violence etc. As soon as, desire is born, it induces man to have a disinclination for his duty, for the self and for God, and an inclination towards perishable world. Consequently, he commits sins, which lead to hell and birth, in lower bodies. It is, because of the desire for sense-enjoyments, that the _ changing and perishable world, (body etc.) seems real and one seeks pleasure out of it. At the time of enjoyment, he forgets the kaleidoscopic nature of objects and regards these and himself, as permanent. If he realized this fact, he, instead of getting entangled in the mirage of pleasures, will have his eye directed to God and the Self, Who are real. It shows, that a man enjoys the worldly sense-enjoyments, by having a disinclination for the real, God or Self; and by enjoying the sense-enjoyments, he develops a disinclination for God. Such a depraved one can't avoid violence, for himself as well as, for others. When a rich man leads a luxurious life and enjoys worldly pleasures, the poor are sad, to see him, suffer. Moreover, he (the self) being a fragment of God is sentient, but when one attaches importance to riches or luxuries, the insentient, he becomes a slave to these and has a downfall. All the worldly materials are limited, so these should be shared by all the people. He, who enjoys the share of others, is a sinner. So a man, should have only the bare necessities of life. In the scriptures, it is mentioned that even bare necessities of life should be satisfied, only after offering these to parents, preceptors, children,women and old people etc.