Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.14.23
एषा घोरतमा वेला घोराणां घोरदर्शना ।
चरन्ति यस्यां भूतानि भूतेशानुचराणि ह ॥ २३ ॥
eṣā ghoratamā velā
[eshaa ghoratamaa velaa]
ghorāṇāṁ ghora-darśanā
[ghoraanaam ghora-darshanaa]
caranti yasyāṁ bhūtāni
[charanti yasyaam bhootaani]
bhūteśānucarāṇi ha
[bhooteshaanucharaani ha]
Word-for-word
eṣā
—
this time
ghora-tamā
—
most horrible
velā
—
period
ghorāṇām
—
of the horrible
ghora-darśanā
—
horrible looking
caranti
—
move
yasyām
—
in which
bhūtāni
—
ghosts
bhūta-īśa
—
the lord of the ghosts
anucarāṇi
—
constant companions
ha
—
indeed.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
eṣā ghoratamā velā
eṣā
this time
ghora-tamā
most horrible
velā
period
ghorāṇāṁ ghora-darśanā
ghorāṇām
of the horrible
ghora-darśanā
horrible looking
caranti yasyāṁ bhūtāni
caranti
move
yasyām
in which
bhūtāni
ghosts
bhūteśānucarāṇi ha
bhūta-īśa
the lord of the ghosts
anucarāṇi
constant companions
ha
indeed.
This particular time is most inauspicious because at this time the horrible-looking ghosts and constant companions of the lord of the ghosts are visible.
Purport
Kaśyapa has already told his wife Diti to wait for a while, and now he warns her that failure to consider the particular time will result in punishment from the ghosts and evil spirits who move during this time, along with their master, Lord Rudra.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
This is the most horrible time among all horrible things, where one can see all types of ghosts. At this time the ghost attendants of Śiva wander about.
He frightens her with the censure about things of which she is unaware, by describing Śiva in seven verses. This is most horrible time (ghoratamā vela) among all horrible things (ghorānām) in which one can see horrible creatures like bhūtas and pretas (ghora-darśanā). The horrible creatures are then described as moving about.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse points beyond impersonal abstraction to a Lord who hears, acts, and relates. Spiritual life gets real once we stop talking about Him and start talking to Him.
Reflection Questions
- Whom do you actually address when you pray — a concept, or a person?
- What single attribute of the Lord, taken seriously today, would reorganize a corner of your life?
My note
Source: vedabase.io