yaḿ yaḿ vāñchati sā rājan
tarpayanty anukampitā
taḿ taḿ samanayat kāmaḿ
kṛcchreṇāpy ajitendriyaḥ
yam yam -- whatever; vanchati -- would want; sa -- she; rajan -- O King; tarpayanti -- pleasing; anukampita -- being shown mercy; tam tam -- that; samanayat -- brought; kamam -- her desire; kricchrena -- with difficulty; api -- even; ajita-indriyah -- having never learned to control his senses.
Whenever she desired anything, O King, the she-pigeon would flatteringly cajole her husband, and he in turn would gratify her by faithfully doing whatever she wanted, even with great personal difficulty. Thus, he could not control his senses in her association.
The word tarpayanti indicates that the lady pigeon was quite expert in seducing her husband through smiling glances and loving talks. Thus appealing to his noble sentiments, she efficiently engaged him as her faithful servant. The poor pigeon was ajitendriya, or one who cannot control his senses and whose heart is easily melted by the beauty of a woman. The brahmana avadhuta is giving valuable instructions by narrating this story of the two pigeons and the terrible distress they suffered by inevitable separation. If one's intelligence is not dedicated to serving Hrishikesa, the Supreme Lord of sense activity, undoubtedly one will plunge into the nescience of bodily gratification. Then one becomes no better than a foolish pigeon.
