Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 3: “The Status Quo”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Twenty-three
SB3.23.14-15
TEXTS 14–15
divyopakaranopetam
sarva-kala-sukhavaham
pattikabhih patakabhir
vicitrabhir alankrtam
sragbhir vicitra-malyabhir
manju-sinjat-sad-anghribhih
dukula-ksauma-kauseyair
nana-vastrair virajitam
SYNONYMS
divya—wonderful; upakarana—with paraphernalia; upetam—equipped; sarva-kala—in all seasons; sukha-avaham—bringing happiness; pattikabhih—with festoons; patakabhih—with flags; vicitrabhih—of various colors and fabrics; alankrtam—decorated; sragbhih—with wreaths; vicitra-malyabhih—with charming flowers; manju—sweet; sinjat—humming; sat-anghribhih—with bees; dukula—fine cloth; ksauma—linen; kauseyaih—of silk cloth; nana—various; vastraih—with tapestries; virajitam—embellished.
TRANSLATION
The castle was fully equipped with all necessary paraphernalia, and it was pleasing in all seasons. It was decorated all around with flags, festoons and artistic work of variegated colors. It was further embellished with wreaths of charming flowers that attracted sweetly humming bees and with tapestries of linen, silk and various other fabrics.
SB3.23.16
TEXT 16
upary upari vinyasta-
nilayesu prthak prthak
ksiptaih kasipubhih kantam
paryanka-vyajanasanaih
SYNONYMS
upari upari—one upon another; vinyasta—placed; nilayesu—in stories; prthak prthak—separately; ksiptaih—arranged; kasipubhih—with beds; kantam—charming; paryanka—couches; vyajana—fans; asanaih—with seats.
TRANSLATION
The palace looked charming, with beds, couches, fans and seats, all separately arranged in seven stories.
PURPORT
It is understood from this verse that the castle had many stories. The words upary upari vinyasta indicate that skyscrapers are not newly invented. Even in those days, millions of years ago, the idea of building many-storied houses was current. They contained not merely one or two rooms, but many different apartments, and each was completely decorated with cushions, bedsteads, sitting places and carpets. SB3.23.17 TEXT 17 tatra tatra viniksipta- nana-silpopasobhitam maha-marakata-sthalya justam vidruma-vedibhih SYNONYMS tatra tatra—here and there; viniksipta—placed; nana—various; silpa—by artistic engravings; upasobhitam—extraordinarily beautiful; maha-marakata—of great emeralds; sthalya—with a floor; justam—furnished; vidruma—of coral; vedibhih—with raised platforms (daises). TRANSLATION Its beauty was enhanced by artistic engravings here and there on the walls. The floor was of emerald, with coral daises. PURPORT At the present moment people are very proud of their architectural art, yet floors are generally decorated with colored cement. It appears, however, that the castle constructed by the yogic powers of Kardama Muni had floors of emerald with coral daises. SB3.23.18 TEXT 18 dvahsu vidruma-dehalya bhatam vajra-kapatavat sikharesv indranilesu hema-kumbhair adhisritam SYNONYMS dvahsu—in the entrances; vidruma—of coral; dehalya—with a threshold; bhatam—beautiful; vajra—bedecked with diamonds; kapata-vat—having doors; sikharesu—on the domes; indra-nilesu—of sapphires; hema-kumbhaih—with gold pinnacles; adhisritam—crowned. TRANSLATION The palace was very beautiful, with its coral thresholds at the entrances and its doors bedecked with diamonds. Gold pinnacles crowned its domes of sapphire. SB3.23.19 TEXT 19 caksusmat padmaragagryair vajra-bhittisu nirmitaih justam vicitra-vaitanair maharhair hema-toranaih SYNONYMS caksuh-mat—as if possessed of eyes; padma-raga—with rubies; agryaih—choicest; vajra—of diamond; bhittisu—on the walls; nirmitaih—set; justam—furnished; vicitra—various; vaitanaih—with canopies; maha-arhaih—greatly valuable; hema-toranaih—with gates of gold. TRANSLATION With the choicest rubies set in its diamond walls, it appeared as though possessed of eyes. It was furnished with wonderful canopies and greatly valuable gates of gold. PURPORT Artistic jewelry and decorations giving the appearance of eyes are not imaginary. Even in recent times the Mogul emperors constructed their palaces with decorations of jeweled birds with eyes made of valuable stones. The stones have been taken away by the authorities, but the decorations are still present in some of the castles constructed by the Mogul emperors in New Delhi. The royal palaces were built with jewels and rare stones resembling eyes, and thus at night they would give off reflective light without need of lamps. SB3.23.20 TEXT 20 hamsa-paravata-vratais tatra tatra nikujitam krtriman manyamanaih svan adhiruhyadhiruhya ca SYNONYMS hamsa—of swans; paravata—of pigeons; vrataih—with multitudes; tatra tatra—here and there; nikujitam—vibrated; krtriman—artificial; manyamanaih—thinking; svan—belonging to their own kind; adhiruhya adhiruhya—rising repeatedly; ca—and. TRANSLATION Here and there in that palace were multitudes of live swans and pigeons, as well as artificial swans and pigeons so lifelike that the real swans rose above them again and again, thinking them live birds like themselves. Thus the palace vibrated with the sounds of these birds. SB3.23.21 TEXT 21 vihara-sthana-visrama- samvesa-pranganajiraih yathopajosam racitair vismapanam ivatmanah SYNONYMS vihara-sthana—pleasure grounds; visrama—resting chambers; samvesa—bedrooms; prangana—inner yards; ajiraih—with outer yards; yatha-upajosam—according to comfort; racitaih—which were designed; vismapanam—causing astonishment; iva—indeed; atmanah—to himself (Kardama). TRANSLATION The castle had pleasure grounds, resting chambers, bedrooms and inner and outer yards designed with an eye to comfort. All this caused astonishment to the sage himself. PURPORT Kardama Muni, being a saintly person, was living in a humble hermitage, but when he saw the palace constructed by his yogic powers, which was full of resting rooms, rooms for sex enjoyment, and inner and outer yards, he himself was astonished. That is the way of a God-gifted person. A devotee like Kardama Muni exhibited such opulence by his yogic power at the request of his wife, but when the opulence was produced, he himself could not understand how such manifestations could be possible. When a yogi’s power is exhibited, the yogi himself is sometimes astonished. SB3.23.22 TEXT 22 idrg grham tat pasyantim natipritena cetasa sarva-bhutasayabhijnah pravocat kardamah svayam SYNONYMS idrk—such; grham—house; tat—that; pasyantim—looking at; na atipritena—not much pleased; cetasa—with a heart; sarva-bhuta—of everyone; asaya-abhijnah—understanding the heart; pravocat—he addressed; kardamah—Kardama; svayam—personally. TRANSLATION When he saw Devahuti looking at the gigantic, opulent palace with a displeased heart, Kardama Muni could understand her feelings because he could study the heart of anyone. Thus he personally addressed his wife as follows. PURPORT Devahuti had spent a long time in the hermitage, not taking much care of her body. She was covered with dirt, and her clothing was not very nice. Kardama Muni was surprised that he could produce such a palace, and similarly his wife, Devahuti, was also astonished. How could she live in that opulent palace? Kardama Muni could understand her astonishment, and thus he spoke as follows. SB3.23.23 TEXT 23 nimajjyasmin hrade bhiru vimanam idam aruha idam sukla-krtam tirtham asisam yapakam nrnam SYNONYMS nimajjya—after bathing; asmin—in this; hrade—in the lake; bhiru—O fearful one; vimanam—airplane; idam—this; aruha—ascend; idam—this; sukla-krtam—created by Lord Visnu; tirtham—sacred lake; asisam—the desires; yapakam—bestowing; nrnam—of human beings. TRANSLATION My dear Devahuti, you look very much afraid. First bathe in Lake Bindu-sarovara, created by Lord Visnu Himself, which can grant all the desires of a human being, and then mount this airplane. PURPORT It is still the system to go to places of pilgrimage and take a bath in the water there. In Vrndavana the people take baths in the River Yamuna. In other places, such as Prayaga, they take baths in the River Ganges. The words tirtham asisam yapakam refer to the fulfillment of desires by bathing in a place of pilgrimage. Kardama Muni advised his good wife to bathe in Lake Bindu-sarovara so that she could revive the former beauty and luster of her body. SB3.23.24 TEXT 24 sa tad bhartuh samadaya vacah kuvalayeksana sarajam bibhrati vaso veni-bhutams ca murdhajan SYNONYMS sa—she; tat—then; bhartuh—of her husband; samadaya—accepting; vacah—the words; kuvalaya-iksana—the lotus-eyed; sa-rajam—dirty; bibhrati—wearing; vasah—clothing; veni-bhutan—matted; ca—and; murdha-jan—hair. TRANSLATION The lotus-eyed Devahuti accepted the order of her husband. Because of her dirty dress and the locks of matted hair on her head, she did not look very attractive. PURPORT It appears that Devahuti’s hair had remained uncombed for many years and had become complicated in tangles. In other words, she neglected her bodily dress and comforts to engage in the service of her husband. SB3.23.25 TEXT 25 angam ca mala-pankena sanchannam sabala-stanam avivesa sarasvatyah sarah siva-jalasayam SYNONYMS angam—body; ca—and; mala-pankena—with dirt; sanchannam—covered; sabala—discolored; stanam—breasts; avivesa—she entered; sarasvatyah—of the River Sarasvati; sarah—the lake; siva—sacred; jala—waters; asayam—containing. TRANSLATION Her body was coated with a thick layer of dirt, and her breasts were discolored. She dove, however, into the lake, which contained the sacred waters of the Sarasvati. SB3.23.26 TEXT 26 santah sarasi vesma-sthah satani dasa kanyakah sarvah kisora-vayaso dadarsotpala-gandhayah SYNONYMS sa—she; antah—inside; sarasi—in the lake; vesma-sthah—situated in a house; satani dasa—ten hundred; kanyakah—girls; sarvah—all; kisora-vayasah—in the prime of youth; dadarsa—she saw; utpala—like lotuses; gandhayah—fragrant. TRANSLATION In a house inside the lake she saw one thousand girls, all in the prime of youth and fragrant like lotuses. SB3.23.27 TEXT 27 tam drstva sahasotthaya procuh pranjalayah striyah vayam karma-karis tubhyam sadhi nah karavama kim SYNONYMS tam—her; drstva—seeing; sahasa—suddenly; utthaya—rising; procuh—they said; pranjalayah—with folded hands; striyah—the damsels; vayam—we; karma-karih—maidservants; tubhyam—for you; sadhi—please tell; nah—us; karavama—we can do; kim—what. TRANSLATION Seeing her, the damsels suddenly rose and said with folded hands, “We are your maidservants. Tell us what we can do for you.” PURPORT While Devahuti was thinking of what to do in that great palace in her dirty clothes, there were at once, by the yogic powers of Kardama Muni, one thousand maidservants prepared to serve her. They appeared before Devahuti within the water and presented themselves as her maidservants, simply awaiting her orders. SB3.23.28 TEXT 28 snanena tam maharhena snapayitva manasvinim dukule nirmale nutne dadur asyai ca manadah SYNONYMS snanena—with bathing oils; tam—her; maha-arhena—very costly; snapayitva—after bathing; manasvinim—the virtuous wife; dukule—in fine cloth; nirmale—spotless; nutne—new; daduh—they gave; asyai—to her; ca—and; mana-dah—the respectful girls. TRANSLATION The girls, being very respectful to Devahuti, brought her forth, and after bathing her with valuable oils and ointments, they gave her fine, new, spotless cloth to cover her body. SB3.23.29 TEXT 29 bhusanani parardhyani variyamsi dyumanti ca annam sarva-gunopetam panam caivamrtasavam SYNONYMS bhusanani—ornaments; para-ardhyani—most valuable; variyamsi—very excellent; dyumanti—splendid; ca—and; annam—food; sarva-guna—all good qualities; upetam—containing; panam—beverages; ca—and; eva—also; amrta—sweet; asavam—intoxicating. TRANSLATION They then decorated her with very excellent and valuable jewels, which shone brightly. Next they offered her food containing all good qualities, and a sweet, inebriating drink called asavam. PURPORT Asavam is an Ayur-vedic medical preparation; it is not a liquor. It is especially made from drugs and is meant to improve metabolism for the healthy condition of the body. SB3.23.30 TEXT 30 athadarse svam atmanam sragvinam virajambaram virajam krta-svastyayanam kanyabhir bahu-manitam SYNONYMS atha—then; adarse—in a mirror; svam atmanam—her own reflection; srak-vinam—adorned with a garland; viraja—unsullied; ambaram—robes; virajam—freed from all bodily dirt; krta-svasti-ayanam—decorated with auspicious marks; kanyabhih—by the maids; bahu-manitam—very respectfully served. TRANSLATION Then in a mirror she beheld her own reflection. Her body was completely freed from all dirt, and she was adorned with a garland. Dressed in unsullied robes and decorated with auspicious marks of tilaka, she was served very respectfully by the maids. SB3.23.31 TEXT 31 snatam krta-sirah-snanam sarvabharana-bhusitam niska-grivam valayinam kujat-kancana-nupuram SYNONYMS snatam—bathed; krta-sirah—including the head; snanam—bathing; sarva—all over; abharana—with ornaments; bhusitam—decorated; niska—a gold necklace with a locket; grivam—on the neck; valayinam—with bangles; kujat—tinkling; kancana—made of gold; nupuram—ankle bells. TRANSLATION Her entire body, including her head, was completely bathed, and she was decorated all over with ornaments. She wore a special necklace with a locket. There were bangles on her wrists and tinkling anklets of gold about her ankles. PURPORT The word krta-sirah-snanam appears here. According to the smrti-sastra’s directions for daily duties, ladies are allowed to bathe daily up to the neck. The hair on the head does not necessarily have to be washed daily because the mass of wet hair may cause a cold. For ladies, therefore, taking a bath up to the neck is ordinarily prescribed, and they take a full bath only on certain occasions. On this occasion Devahuti took a full bath and washed her hair very nicely. When a lady takes an ordinary bath it is called mala-snana, and when she takes a full bath, including the head, it is called sirah-snana. At this time she needs sufficient oil to smear on her head. That is the direction of the commentators of smrti-sastra. SB3.23.32 TEXT 32 sronyor adhyastaya kancya kancanya bahu-ratnaya harena ca maharhena rucakena ca bhusitam SYNONYMS sronyoh—on the hips; adhyastaya—worn; kancya—with a girdle; kancanya—made of gold; bahu-ratnaya—decorated with numerous jewels; harena—with a pearl necklace; ca—and; maha-arhena—precious; rucakena—with auspicious substances; ca—and; bhusitam—adorned. TRANSLATION About her hips she wore a girdle of gold, set with numerous jewels, and she was further adorned with a precious pearl necklace and auspicious substances. PURPORT Auspicious substances include saffron, kunkuma and sandalwood pulp. Before taking a bath there are other auspicious substances, such as turmeric mixed with mustard seed oil, which are smeared all over the body. All kinds of auspicious substances were used to bathe Devahuti from top to toe. SB3.23.33 TEXT 33 sudata subhruva slaksna- snigdhapangena caksusa padma-kosa-sprdha nilair alakais ca lasan-mukham SYNONYMS su-data—with beautiful teeth; su-bhruva—with charming eyebrows; slaksna—lovely; snigdha—moist; apangena—corners of eyes; caksusa—with eyes; padma-kosa—lotus buds; sprdha—defeating; nilaih—bluish; alakaih—with curling hair; ca—and; lasat—shining; mukham—countenance. TRANSLATION Her countenance shone, with beautiful teeth and charming eyebrows. Her eyes, distinguished by lovely moist corners, defeated the beauty of lotus buds. Her face was surrounded by dark curling tresses. PURPORT According to Vedic culture, white teeth are very much appreciated. Devahuti’s white teeth increased the beauty of her face and made it look like a lotus flower. When a face looks very attractive, the eyes are generally compared to lotus petals and the face to a lotus flower. SB3.23.34 TEXT 34 yada sasmara rsabham rsinam dayitam patim tatra caste saha stribhir yatraste sa prajapatih SYNONYMS yada—when; sasmara—she thought of; rsabham—the foremost; rsinam—among the rsis; dayitam—dear; patim—husband; tatra—there; ca—and; aste—she was present; saha—along with; stribhih—the maidservants; yatra—where; aste—was present; sah—he; prajapatih—the Prajapati (Kardama). TRANSLATION When she thought of her great husband, the best of the sages, Kardama Muni, who was very dear to her, she, along with all the maidservants, at once appeared where he was. PURPORT It appears from this verse that in the beginning Devahuti thought herself to be dirty and dressed in a very niggardly way. When her husband asked her to enter the lake, she saw the maidservants, and they took care of her. Everything was done within the water, and as soon as she thought of her beloved husband, Kardama, she was brought before him without delay. These are some of the powers attained by perfect yogis; they can immediately execute anything they desire. SB3.23.35 TEXT 35 bhartuh purastad atmanam stri-sahasra-vrtam tada nisamya tad-yoga-gatim samsayam pratyapadyata SYNONYMS bhartuh—of her husband; purastat—in the presence; atmanam—herself; stri-sahasra—by a thousand maids; vrtam—surrounded; tada—then; nisamya—seeing; tat—his; yoga-gatim—yogic power; samsayam pratyapadyata—she was amazed. TRANSLATION She was amazed to find herself surrounded by a thousand maids in the presence of her husband and to witness his yogic power. PURPORT Devahuti saw everything miraculously done, yet when brought before her husband she could understand that it was all due to his great yogic mystic power. She understood that nothing was impossible for a yogi like Kardama Muni. SB3.23.36-37 TEXTS 36–37 sa tam krta-mala-snanam vibhrajantim apurvavat atmano bibhratim rupam samvita-rucira-stanim vidyadhari-sahasrena sevyamanam suvasasam jata-bhavo vimanam tad arohayad amitra-han SYNONYMS sah—the sage; tam—her (Devahuti); krta-mala-snanam—bathed clean; vibhrajantim—shining forth; apurva-vat—unprecedentedly; atmanah—her own; bibhratim—possessing; rupam—beauty; samvita—girded; rucira—charming; stanim—with breasts; vidyadhari—of Gandharva girls; sahasrena—by a thousand; sevyamanam—being waited upon; su-vasasam—dressed in excellent robes; jata-bhavah—struck with fondness; vimanam—airplane like a mansion; tat—that; arohayat—he put her on board; amitra-han—O destroyer of the enemy. TRANSLATION The sage could see that Devahuti had washed herself clean and was shining forth as though no longer his former wife. She had regained her own original beauty as the daughter of a prince. Dressed in excellent robes, her charming breasts duly girded, she was waited upon by a thousand Gandharva girls. O destroyer of the enemy, his fondness for her grew, and he placed her on the aerial mansion. PURPORT Before her marriage, when Devahuti was brought by her parents before the sage Kardama, she was the perfectly beautiful princess, and Kardama Muni remembered her former beauty. But after her marriage, when she was engaged in the service of Kardama Muni, she neglected to care for her body like a princess, since there was no means for such care; her husband was living in a cottage, and since she was always engaged in serving him, her royal beauty disappeared, and she became just like an ordinary maidservant. Now, after being bathed by the Gandharva girls by the order of Kardama Muni’s yogic power, she regained her beauty, and Kardama Muni felt attracted to the beauty she had shown before the marriage. The real beauty of a young woman is her breasts. When Kardama Muni saw the breasts of his wife so nicely decorated, increasing her beauty many times, he was attracted, even though he was a great sage. Sripada Sankaracarya has therefore warned the transcendentalists that one who is after transcendental realization should not be attracted by the raised breasts of a woman because they are nothing but an interaction of fat and blood within the body. SB3.23.38 TEXT 38 tasminn alupta-mahima priyayanurakto vidyadharibhir upacirna-vapur vimane babhraja utkaca-kumud-ganavan apicyas tarabhir avrta ivodu-patir nabhah-sthah SYNONYMS tasmin—in that; alupta—not lost; mahima—glory; priyaya—with his beloved consort; anuraktah—attached; vidyadharibhih—by the Gandharva girls; upacirna—waited upon; vapuh—his person; vimane—on the airplane; babhraja—he shone; utkaca—open; kumut-ganavan—the moon, which is followed by rows of lilies; apicyah—very charming; tarabhih—by stars; avrtah—surrounded; iva—as; udu-patih—the moon (the chief of the stars); nabhah-sthah—in the sky. TRANSLATION Though seemingly attached to his beloved consort while served by the Gandharva girls, the sage did not lose his glory, which was mastery over his self. In the aerial mansion Kardama Muni with his consort shone as charmingly as the moon in the midst of the stars in the sky, which causes rows of lilies to open in ponds at night. PURPORT The mansion was in the sky, and therefore the comparison to the full moon and stars is very beautifully composed in this verse. Kardama Muni looked like the full moon, and the girls who surrounded his wife, Devahuti, seemed just like the stars. On a full-moon night the stars and the moon together form a beautiful constellation; similarly, in that aerial mansion in the sky, Kardama Muni with his beautiful wife and the damsels surrounding them appeared like the moon and stars on a full-moon night. SB3.23.39 TEXT 39 tenasta-lokapa-vihara-kulacalendra- dronisv ananga-sakha-maruta-saubhagasu siddhair nuto dyudhuni-pata-siva-svanasu reme ciram dhanadaval-lalana-varuthi SYNONYMS tena—by that airplane; asta-loka-pa—of the predominating deities of the eight heavenly planets; vihara—the pleasure grounds; kula-acala-indra—of the king of the mountains (Meru); dronisu—in the valleys; ananga—of passion; sakha—the companions; maruta—with breezes; saubhagasu—beautiful; siddhaih—by the Siddhas; nutah—being praised; dyu-dhuni—of the Ganges; pata—of the downfall; siva-svanasu—vibrating with auspicious sounds; reme—he enjoyed; ciram—for a long time; dhanada-vat—like Kuvera; lalana—by damsels; varuthi—surrounded. TRANSLATION In that aerial mansion he traveled to the pleasure valleys of Mount Meru, which were rendered all the more beautiful by cool, gentle, fragrant breezes that stimulated passion. In these valleys, the treasurer of the gods, Kuvera, surrounded by beautiful women and praised by the Siddhas, generally enjoys pleasure. Kardama Muni also, surrounded by the beautiful damsels and his wife, went there and enjoyed for many, many years. PURPORT Kuvera is one of the eight demigods who are in charge of different directions of the universe. It is said that Indra is in charge of the eastern side of the universe, where the heavenly planet, or paradise, is situated. Similarly, Agni is in charge of the southeastern portion of the universe; Yama, the demigod who punishes sinners, is in charge of the southern portion; Nirrti is in charge of the southwestern part of the universe; Varuna, the demigod in charge of the waters, is in charge of the western portion; Vayu, who controls the air and who has wings to travel in the air, is in charge of the northwestern part of the universe; and Kuvera, the treasurer of the demigods, is in charge of the northern part of the universe. All these demigods take pleasure in the valleys of Mount Meru, which is situated somewhere between the sun and the earth. In the aerial mansion, Kardama Muni traveled throughout the eight directions controlled by the different demigods described above, and as the demigods go to Mount Meru, he also went there to enjoy life. When one is surrounded by young, beautiful girls, sex stimulation naturally becomes prominent. Kardama Muni was sexually stimulated, and he enjoyed his wife for many, many years in that part of Mount Meru. But his sex indulgence was praised by many, many Siddhas, beings who have attained perfection, because it was intended to produce good progeny for the good of universal affairs.