Vidwamsam api Karshati | Guruji's Thoughts | 1 min.

In our ancient literature there is the story of Jaimini, a disciple of the great sage Vyasa. Vyasa once asked him to write the shloka-

बलवान इंद्रियग्रामो विद्वाम्सं अपि कर्षति  

The pull of senses will distract even the scholars.

But Jaimini, over-conscious of his powers of self-restraint, changed the words into:

बलवान इंद्रियग्रामो विद्वाम्सं नापकर्षति 

The pull of senses will not distract the scholar.

Vyasa observed it but kept quiet for the time being. Jaimini was residing in a forest, engaged in penance. One evening rain and tempest set in. a young and beautiful woman drenched in the rain and seeking shelter in that darkness came to the hut and begged the young tapasvi for protection. There was fire in the oven; she went there and began to dry her clothes. Just then a gust of wind took away her sari leaving her naked. The young Jaimini could no longer control himself. He approached the woman and entreated her to satisfy his carnal desire. She tried to dissuade him saying that he was a tapasvi; that he should not fall into temptation and so on but to no avail. Finally she accepted to fulfill his desire on the condition that he should take her on his shoulders and go round the fire three times. In his infatuation he readily agreed to it and lifted her on his shoulders. As soon as he began to go round the fire she began hitting his head and asking tauntingly - विद्वाम्सं नापकर्षति?

He was amazed to find that woman reminding him of the words of his guru. He finished his rounds and lowered the lady down only to find to his utter bewilderment his guru Vedavyasa himself looking at him with a meaningful smile! Jaimini was plunged in repentance. He hurried back and changed the shloka to its original form.

Namaste!

[Source: Bunch of Thoughts]