concession for sense gratification

The word grhesu is significant in this verse. Out of the four asramas-the brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa-only a grhastha or householder, is allowed to associate with women; therefore the grhastha-asrama is a kind of license for sense gratification given to the devotee. Prthu Maharaja was special in that although he was given license to remain a householder, and although he possessed immense opulences in his kingdom, he never engaged in sense gratification. This was a special sign that indicated him to be a pure devotee of the Lord. A pure devotee is never attracted by sense gratification, and consequently he is liberated. In material life a person engages in sense gratification for his own personal satisfaction, but in the devotional or liberated life one aims to satisfy the senses of the Lord.    (More...)