All Books | Shrimad Bhagavatam | Canto 11: General History | Chapter Eight: The Story of Piṅgalā

SB 11.8.27

तस्या वित्ताशया शुष्यद्वक्त्राया दीनचेतस: ।
निर्वेद: परमो जज्ञे चिन्ताहेतु: सुखावह: ॥ २७ ॥

tasyā vittāśayā śuṣyad-
vaktrāyā dīna-cetasaḥ
nirvedaḥ paramo jajñe
cintā-hetuḥ sukhāvahaḥ

Synonyms

tasyāḥ — of her; vitta — for money; āśayā — by the desire; śuṣyat — dried up; vaktrāyāḥ — her face; dīna — morose; cetasaḥ — her mind; nirvedaḥ — detachment; paramaḥ — very great; jajñe — awakened; cintā — anxiety; hetuḥ — because of; sukha — happiness; āvahaḥ — bringing.

Translation

As the night wore on, the prostitute, who intensely desired money, gradually became morose, and her face dried up. Thus being filled with anxiety for money and most disappointed, she began to feel a great detachment from her situation, and happiness arose in her mind.

Purport

It appears from these verses that on this particular night the prostitute Piṅgalā was not at all successful in attracting customers to her house. Being completely frustrated and disappointed, she gradually became indifferent to her situation. Thus, great suffering sometimes leads one to the path of enlightenment; or, according to a Sanskrit proverb, disappointment gives rise to the greatest satisfaction.

The prostitute had dedicated her life to satisfying the lusty desires of many men. Engaging her mind, body and words in the service of paying lovers, she completely forgot the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus her mind was most unsteady and disturbed. Finally, being completely frustrated, her face and throat drying up, she began to feel indifferent to her situation, and happiness arose in her mind.

BACE: Aiming to Teach Vedic Culture All Over the Globe.

www.vedabace.com is explanation of Vedic knowledge with detail information which can be useful in daily spiritual practice and studies and research.

for further details please contact- info@vedabace.com