Canto & Chapters
The Status Quo (33 Chapters)
Chapter 145v
Questions by Vidura
Chapter 234v
Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa
Chapter 328v
The Lord’s Pastimes Out of Vṛndāvana
Chapter 436v
Vidura Approaches Maitreya
Chapter 551v
Vidura’s Talks with Maitreya
Chapter 640v
Creation of the Universal Form
Chapter 742v
Further Inquires by Vidura
Chapter 833v
Manifestation of Brahmā from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu
Chapter 943v
Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy
Chapter 1029v
Divisions of the Creation
Chapter 1142v
Calculation of Time, from the Atom
Chapter 1257v
Creation of the Kumāras and Others
Chapter 1350v
The Appearance of Lord Varāha
Chapter 1450v
Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening
Chapter 1550v
Description of the Kingdom of God
Chapter 1637v
The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuṇṭha, Jaya and Vijaya, Cursed by the Sages
Chapter 1731v
Victory of Hiraṇyākṣa Over All the Directions of the Universe
Chapter 1827v
The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa
Chapter 1938v
The Killing of the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa
Chapter 2053v
Conversation Between Maitreya and Vidura
Chapter 2150v
Conversation Between Manu and Kardama
Chapter 2237v
The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahūti
Chapter 2354v
Devahūti’s Lamentation
Chapter 2446v
The Renunciation of Kardama Muni
Chapter 2543v
The Glories of Devotional Service
Chapter 2671v
Fundamental Principles of Material Nature
Chapter 2729v
Understanding Material Nature
Chapter 2844v
Kapila’s Instructions on the Execution of Devotional Service
Chapter 2943v
Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Chapter 3034v
Description by Lord Kapila of Adverse Fruitive Activities
Chapter 3147v
Lord Kapila’s Instructions on the Movements of the Living Entities
Chapter 3238v
Entanglement in Fruitive Activities
Chapter 3336v
Activities of Kapila
Canto 3, Chapter 31

Lord Kapila’s Instructions on the Movements of the Living Entities

Verse 40 (SB 3.31.40)
SB 3.31.40 • मूल श्लोक

योपयाति शनैर्माया योषिद्देवविनिर्मिता । तामीक्षेतात्मनो मृत्युं तृणै: कूपमिवावृतम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

yopayāti śanair māyā yoṣid deva-vinirmitā tām īkṣetātmano mṛtyuṁ tṛṇaiḥ kūpam ivāvṛtam

Synonyms (Word-for-Word)

yā — she who; upayāti — approaches; śanaiḥ — slowly; māyā — representation of māyā; yoṣit — woman; deva — by the Lord; vinirmitā — created; tām — her; īkṣeta — one must regard; ātmanaḥ — of the soul; mṛtyum — death; tṛṇaiḥ — with grass; kūpam — a well; iva — like; āvṛtam — covered.

Translation

“The woman, created by the Lord, is the representation of māyā, and one who associates with such māyā by accepting services must certainly know that this is the way of death, just like a blind well covered with grass.”

Bhaktivedanta Purport

By Śrīla Prabhupāda
Sometimes it happens that a rejected well is covered by grass, and an unwary traveler who does not know of the existence of the well falls down, and his death is assured. Similarly, association with a woman begins when one accepts service from her, because woman is especially created by the Lord to give service to man. By accepting her service, a man is entrapped. If he is not intelligent enough to know that she is the gateway to hellish life, he may indulge in her association very liberally. This is restricted for those who aspire to ascend to the transcendental platform. Even fifty years ago in Hindu society, such association was restricted. A wife could not see her husband during the daytime. Householders even had different residential quarters. The internal quarters of a residential house were for the woman, and the external quarters were for the man. Acceptance of service rendered by a woman may appear very pleasing, but one should be very cautious in accepting such service because it is clearly said that woman is the gateway to death, or forgetfulness of one’s self. She blocks the path of spiritual realization.