The nature and consequences of desire are vividly explored
in various Hindu scriptures. These texts offer numerous examples illustrating
how intense desires can lead individuals to commit sinful actions and how
unfulfilled desires transform into anger, disrupting mental peace and
rationality. Here are some expanded examples and explanations from Hindu
scriptures to illustrate these points:
Desire as a Deadly Enemy
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna how
desire and anger arise from the mode of passion and are the greatest enemies of
a person striving for self-realization.
Example: Bhagavad Gita 3.37-39 Krishna says:
"It is lust (desire) only, Arjuna, which is born of
contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath;
know this as the sinful, all-devouring enemy in the world."
This passage explains that desire, when not fulfilled, turns
into anger. Lust, or intense desire, is described as the enemy that clouds
judgment and leads to sinful actions.
Desire Leading to Sin
In the epic Mahabharata, the character of Duryodhana
exemplifies how intense desire for power and jealousy can lead to immoral
actions. His desire to be the sole ruler and his envy of the Pandavas drives
him to deceit and war.
Example: Duryodhana's Envy and Ambition Duryodhana's desire
to usurp the Pandavas’ kingdom leads him to orchestrate the infamous dice game,
which results in the Pandavas' exile and the disrobing of Draupadi. His
unchecked desire ultimately leads to the devastating Kurukshetra war, causing
immense destruction and loss of life.
Desire Leading to Anger
The story of Ravana in the Ramayana is a powerful
illustration of how unfulfilled desire can turn into destructive anger.
Example: Ravana’s Abduction of Sita Ravana's intense desire
for Sita, the wife of Rama, drives him to abduct her. When his desire is
thwarted by Sita's rejection and Rama's pursuit, Ravana’s frustration turns
into wrath, leading to his demise and the fall of his kingdom.
Desire and Loss of Reason
Desire's capacity to cloud judgment is a common theme. The
Mahabharata also gives the example of King Yayati.
Example: King Yayati and the Curse King Yayati, cursed to
old age due to his unchecked desire, is allowed to exchange his old age with
one of his sons. Despite enjoying youth again, he realizes the insatiable
nature of desire and eventually renounces worldly pleasures, understanding that
fulfilling one desire only leads to another.
Desire as a Consuming Fire
Desire is often compared to fire in Hindu scriptures,
symbolizing its insatiable and consuming nature.
Example: Bhagavad Gita 3.39 Krishna states:
"Just as a fire is covered by smoke, a mirror is
covered by dust, and an embryo is covered by the womb, similarly, the living
entity is covered by different degrees of lust."
Here, desire is likened to a fire that, once ignited, is
difficult to extinguish. It covers and distorts the true nature of the self,
leading to continuous unrest.
Freedom from Desire
The Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads emphasize transcending
desire by recognizing the true nature of the self beyond the body.
Example: Bhagavad Gita 2.55 Krishna describes the state of a
person free from desire:
"When a man gives up all varieties of desire for sense
gratification, which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind, thus
purified, finds satisfaction in the self alone, then he is said to be in pure
transcendental consciousness."
This verse underlines the importance of renouncing desires
to achieve true peace and self-realization.
Through these examples from the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, and Mahabharata, Hindu scriptures illustrate the destructive potential of desire and the importance of overcoming it. They teach that understanding one's true self beyond the physical body is essential for overcoming the ensnaring and consuming nature of desires, ultimately leading to peace and spiritual liberation.
Why Desire Is Bad? - Chandrasekara Saraswathi Swamigal of Kamakoti
Chandrasekara Saraswathi Swamigal