Text 17
loka-bandhuṣu megheṣu
vidyutaś cala-sauhṛdāḥ
sthairyaṁ na cakruḥ kāminyaḥ
puruṣeṣu guṇiṣv iva
loka — of all the world; bandhuṣu — who are the friends; megheṣu — among the clouds; vidyutaḥ — the lightning; cala-sauhṛdāḥ — fickle in their friendship; sthairyam — steadiness; na cakruḥ — did not maintain; kāminyaḥ — lusty women; puruṣeṣu — among men; guṇiṣu — who are virtuous; iva — as.
Though the clouds are the well-wishing friends of all living beings, the lightning, fickle in its affinities, moved from one group of clouds to another, like lusty women unfaithful even to virtuous men.
Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “During the rainy season, lightning appears in one group of clouds and then immediately in another group of clouds. This phenomenon is compared to a lusty woman who does not fix her mind on one man. A cloud is compared to a qualified person because it pours rain and gives sustenance to many people; a man who is qualified similarly gives sustenance to many living creatures, such as family members or many workers in business. Unfortunately, his whole life can be disturbed by a wife who divorces him; when the husband is disturbed, the whole family is ruined, the children are dispersed or the business is closed, and everything is affected. It is therefore recommended that a woman desiring to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness peacefully live with a husband and that the couple not separate under any condition. The husband and wife should control sex indulgence and concentrate their minds on Kṛṣṇa consciousness so their life may be successful. After all, in the material world a man requires a woman and a woman requires a man. When they are combined, they should live peacefully in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and should not be restless like the lightning, flashing from one group of clouds to another.”