Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.20.33
वितर्कयन्तो बहुधा तां सन्ध्यां
प्रमदाकृतिम् ।
अभिसम्भाव्य विश्रम्भात्पर्यपृच्छन् कुमेधस: ॥ ३३ ॥
vitarkayanto bahudhā
[vitarkayanto bahudhaa]
tāṁ sandhyāṁ pramadākṛtim
[taam sandhyaam pramadaakritim]
abhisambhāvya viśrambhāt
[abhisambhaavya vishrambhaat]
paryapṛcchan kumedhasaḥ
[paryaprichchan kumedhasah]
Word-for-word
vitarkayantaḥ
—
indulging in speculations
bahudhā
—
various kinds
tām
—
her
sandhyām
—
the evening twilight
pramadā
—
a young woman
ākṛtim
—
in the form of
abhisambhāvya
—
treating with great respect
viśrambhāt
—
fondly
paryapṛcchan
—
questioned
ku-medhasaḥ
—
wicked-minded.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vitarkayanto bahudhā
vitarkayantaḥ
indulging in speculations
bahudhā
various kinds
tāṁ sandhyāṁ pramadākṛtim
tām
her
sandhyām
the evening twilight
pramadā
a young woman
ākṛtim
in the form of
abhisambhāvya viśrambhāt
abhisambhāvya
treating with great respect
viśrambhāt
fondly
paryapṛcchan kumedhasaḥ
paryapṛcchan
questioned
ku-medhasaḥ
wicked-minded.
Indulging in various speculations about the evening twilight, which appeared to them endowed with the form of a young woman, the wicked-minded asuras treated her with respect and fondly spoke to her as follows.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The foolish demons, thinking of the twilight as a woman, speculating about here, welcomed her and then with affection questioned her.
Is she attracted to us or not? Is she a goddess or a human? Is she a prostitute or a woman of strict vows? In this way they speculated. They received her properly (abhisambhāvya).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The wicked-minded asuras speak respectfully to the apparent young woman who is actually twilight. Even reverence can be misdirected when the heart's intention is wrong. Polite speech doesn't sanctify hostile intent.
Reflection Questions
- Where do I dress disordered desire in courteous language and call it harmless?
- How do I detect when my politeness is hiding something the verse would name as 'wicked-minded'?
My note
Source: vedabase.io