FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.9

तुर्ये धर्मकलासर्गे नरनारायणावृषी । भूत्वात्मोपशमोपेतमकरोद्दुश्चरं तप: ॥ ९ ॥
turye dharma-kalā-sarge
[turye dharma-kalaa-sarge]
nara-nārāyaṇāv ṛṣī
[nara-naaraayanaav rishee]
bhūtvātmopaśamopetam
[bhootvaatmopashamopetam]
akarot duścaraṁ tapaḥ
[akarot dushcharam tapah]
turye — in the fourth of the line dharma-kalā — wife of Dharmarāja sarge — being born of nara-nārāyaṇau — named Nara and Nārāyaṇa ṛṣī — sages bhūtvā — becoming ātma-upaśama — controlling the senses upetam — for achievement of akarot — undertook duścaram — very strenuous tapaḥ — penance.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
turye dharma-kalā-sarge
turye
in the fourth of the line
dharma-kalā
wife of Dharmarāja
sarge
being born of
nara-nārāyaṇāv ṛṣī
nara-nārāyaṇau
named Nara and Nārāyaṇa
ṛṣī
sages
bhūtvātmopaśamopetam
bhūtvā
becoming
ātma-upaśama
controlling the senses
upetam
for achievement of
akarot duścaraṁ tapaḥ
akarot
undertook
duścaram
very strenuous
tapaḥ
penance.
In the fourth incarnation, the Lord became Nara and Nārāyaṇa, the twin sons of the wife of King Dharma. Thus He undertook severe and exemplary penances to control the senses.

As King Ṛṣabha advised His sons, tapasya, or voluntary acceptance of penance for realization of the Transcendence, is the only duty of the human being; it was so done by the Lord Himself in an exemplary manner to teach us. The Lord is very kind to the forgetful souls. He therefore comes Himself and leaves behind necessary instructions and also sends His good sons as representatives to call all the conditioned souls back to Godhead. Recently, within the memory of everyone, Lord Caitanya also appeared for the same purpose: to show special favor to fallen souls of this age of iron industry. The incarnation of Nārāyaṇa is worshiped still at Badarī-nārāyaṇa, on the range of the Himālayas.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Fourth, appearing in the wife of Dharma, he became Nara-nārāyaṇa, and performed severe austerities which give peace to the soul.
Commentary

Turye means fourth. Dharma-kalā, part of Dharma, refers to the wife of Dharma, since the śṛuti says ardho vā eṣa ātmano yat patnī: the wife is half of oneself. Appearing in her (sarge) he became the two sages. They are considered one avatāra.

Nara-Nārāyaṇa undertook exemplary austerities to control the senses — not because senses are evil, but because mastery over them frees love to flow. Discipline serves devotion, not the other way around.
Reflection Questions
  • Which sense, right now, is most pulling at me and away from devotion?
  • What modest discipline could free that energy for love rather than habit?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 3