View source for How Attachment for Women Increases Material Bondage

Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that material existence is sustained by attachment arising from bodily consciousness, especially attraction between men and women. This attachment gradually expands into entanglement with wealth, family, prestige, sensual enjoyment, and false identity. The conditioned soul, bewildered by temporary pleasures, forgets his eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa and becomes increasingly bound by material suffering. By understanding the dangers of uncontrolled attachment and redirecting consciousness toward devotional service, one can gradually become free from material bondage.

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=== Attraction Between Men and Women Binds the Soul ===

The attraction between man and woman forms the foundation of material attachment and bodily identification. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that from this attraction arise countless material entanglements that keep the conditioned soul bound within ''saṁsāra''.

* [[Vaniquotes:A man becomes attached to a woman because of her service, her beauty and many other assets, and similarly a woman becomes attached to a man for his giving her a nice place to live, ornaments, dress and children|A man becomes attached to a woman because of her service, her beauty and many other assets, and similarly a woman becomes attached to a man for his giving her a nice place to live, ornaments, dress and children.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:A man should not be attached to a woman, nor should a woman be attached to a man. Both man and woman should be attached to the service of the Lord|A man should not be attached to a woman, nor should a woman be attached to a man. Both man and woman should be attached to the service of the Lord.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Material life means attachment for women, children, friends, countrymen, position, wealth, and good name. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam material existence is compare to a forest full of plunderers, dacoits, jackals, tigers and other ferocious animals|Material life means attachment for women, children, friends, countrymen, position, wealth, and good name. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam material existence is compare to a forest full of plunderers, dacoits, jackals, tigers and other ferocious animals.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The body of a man should not be misused through forming an attachment to women and thus becoming too entangled in material enjoyment, which will result in getting the body of a woman in the next life|The body of a man should not be misused through forming an attachment to women and thus becoming too entangled in material enjoyment, which will result in getting the body of a woman in the next life.]]

=== Association with Materialistic Persons Increases Illusion ===

Association powerfully shapes consciousness. Those who associate with persons absorbed in sensual enjoyment and attachment for women gradually develop similar desires and become increasingly distant from spiritual realization.

* [[Vaniquotes:An intelligent person gives up the company of those who are attached to women and bereft of Krsna consciousness. One should be free from all kinds of material attachment and should take full shelter under the lotus feet of Krsna|An intelligent person gives up the company of those who are attached to women and bereft of Krsna consciousness. One should be free from all kinds of material attachment and should take full shelter under the lotus feet of Krsna.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Attachment to women is so contaminating that one becomes attached to the condition of material life not only by the association of women but by the contaminated association of persons who are too attached to them|Attachment to women is so contaminating that one becomes attached to the condition of material life not only by the association of women but by the contaminated association of persons who are too attached to them.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Due to bad association, one gradually falls into lower species. Association with women is greatly stressed in this regard. When one becomes attached to women or to those who are attached to women, one falls down into the lower species|Due to bad association, one gradually falls into lower species. Association with women is greatly stressed in this regard. When one becomes attached to women or to those who are attached to women, one falls down into the lower species.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If one wants to go to the darkest regions of material existence, one may continue to associate with persons who are attached to women (yositam sangi-sangam). The word yosit means "woman." Persons who are too materialistic are attached to women|If one wants to go to the darkest regions of material existence, one may continue to associate with persons who are attached to women (yositam sangi-sangam). The word yosit means "woman." Persons who are too materialistic are attached to women.]]

=== False Renunciation Cannot Purify the Heart ===

External renunciation alone is insufficient if attachment for women still remains within the heart. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that sentimental renunciation without genuine purification leads to hypocrisy and spiritual danger.

* [[Vaniquotes:Although many men take sannyasa to become liberated, because of their imperfections they again become attached to women, material activities, social welfare work and so on|Although many men take sannyasa to become liberated, because of their imperfections they again become attached to women, material activities, social welfare work and so on.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If an unfit person sentimentally accepts vairagya or takes sannyasa but at the same time remains attached to women, he is in a very dangerous position. His renunciation is called markata-vairagya, or renunciation like that of a monkey|If an unfit person sentimentally accepts vairagya or takes sannyasa but at the same time remains attached to women, he is in a very dangerous position. His renunciation is called markata-vairagya, or renunciation like that of a monkey.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The prakrta-sahajiyas generally chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, yet they are attached to women, money and intoxication|The prakrta-sahajiyas generally chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, yet they are attached to women, money and intoxication.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Sometimes fruitive workers, dry philosophers, nondevotees, mystic yogis and persons attached to material opulence, women and money are considered mahajanas. But Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 6.3.25) gives a statement about such unauthorized mahajanas|Sometimes fruitive workers, dry philosophers, nondevotees, mystic yogis and persons attached to material opulence, women and money are considered mahajanas. But Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 6.3.25) gives a statement about such unauthorized mahajanas.]]

=== Material Attachment Expands Throughout Society ===

Attachment for women is closely connected with pride, intoxication, material ambition, and false civilization. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that as society becomes increasingly absorbed in sensuality, spiritual principles decline and material suffering expands.

* [[Vaniquotes:Austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness, became curtailed by proportionate development of pride, attachment for women and intoxication|Austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness, became curtailed by proportionate development of pride, attachment for women and intoxication.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Gradually (in the age of Kali), the basic principles of brahminical culture, namely austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness, became curtailed by proportionate development of pride, attachment for women and intoxication|Gradually (in the age of Kali), the basic principles of brahminical culture, namely austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness, became curtailed by proportionate development of pride, attachment for women and intoxication.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Presently we are attached to money, women, nice houses, country, society, friends, family and so forth. This attachment is called arjanam pasu. The word pasu means - rope|Presently we are attached to money, women, nice houses, country, society, friends, family and so forth. This attachment is called arjanam pasu. The word pasu means - rope.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We must remember that false pride, or too high an estimation of one's own values of life, undue attachment to women or association with them, and intoxication will divert human civilization from the path of peace however much the people clamor for peace|We must remember that false pride, or too high an estimation of one's own values of life, undue attachment to women or association with them, and intoxication will divert human civilization from the path of peace however much the people clamor for peace.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that attachment for women, when rooted in bodily consciousness and sensual enjoyment, becomes a major cause of material bondage. Such attachment expands into endless desires for wealth, prestige, family identity, and material comfort, binding the conditioned soul to repeated birth and death. Association with materialistic persons further strengthens illusion, while superficial renunciation cannot purify the heart without genuine spiritual transformation. Real liberation becomes possible only when material attachment is redirected toward devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, the eternal object of the soul’s love.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:Attachment_for_Women|Attachment for Women]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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