FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.19.24-25

एवमिन्द्रे हरत्यश्वं वैन्ययज्ञजिघांसया । तद्गृहीतविसृष्टेषु पाखण्डेषु मतिर्नृणाम् ॥ २४ ॥ धर्म इत्युपधर्मेषु नग्नरक्तपटादिषु । प्रायेण सज्जते भ्रान्त्या पेशलेषु च वाग्मिषु ॥ २५ ॥
evam indre haraty aśvaṁ
[evam indre haraty ashvam]
vainya-yajña-jighāṁsayā
[vainya-yajna-jighaamsayaa]
tad-gṛhīta-visṛṣṭeṣu
[tad-griheeta-visrishteshu]
pākhaṇḍeṣu matir nṛṇām
[paakhandeshu matir nrinaam]
dharma ity upadharmeṣu
[dharma ity upadharmeshu]
nagna-rakta-paṭādiṣu
[nagna-rakta-pataadishu]
prāyeṇa sajjate bhrāntyā
[praayena sajjate bhraantyaa]
peśaleṣu ca vāgmiṣu
[peshaleshu cha vaagmishu]
Word-for-word
evam — thus indre — when the King of heaven harati — stole aśvam — the horse vainya — of the son of King Vena yajña — the sacrifice jighāṁsayā — with a desire to stop tat — by him gṛhīta — accepted visṛṣṭeṣu — abandoned pākhaṇḍeṣu — towards the sinful dress matiḥ — attraction nṛṇām — of the people in general dharmaḥ — system of religion iti — thus upadharmeṣu — towards false religious systems nagna — naked rakta-paṭa — red-robed ādiṣu — etc. prāyeṇa — generally sajjate — is attracted bhrāntyā — foolishly peśaleṣu — expert ca — and vāgmiṣu — eloquent.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
evam indre haraty aśvaṁ
evam
thus
indre
when the King of heaven
harati
stole
aśvam
the horse
vainya-yajña-jighāṁsayā
vainya
of the son of King Vena
yajña
the sacrifice
jighāṁsayā
with a desire to stop
tad-gṛhīta-visṛṣṭeṣu
tat
by him
gṛhīta
accepted
visṛṣṭeṣu
abandoned
pākhaṇḍeṣu matir nṛṇām
pākhaṇḍeṣu
towards the sinful dress
matiḥ
attraction
nṛṇām
of the people in general
dharma ity upadharmeṣu
dharmaḥ
system of religion
iti
thus
upadharmeṣu
towards false religious systems
nagna-rakta-paṭādiṣu
nagna
naked
rakta-paṭa
red-robed
ādiṣu
etc.
prāyeṇa sajjate bhrāntyā
prāyeṇa
generally
sajjate
is attracted
bhrāntyā
foolishly
peśaleṣu ca vāgmiṣu
peśaleṣu
expert
ca
and
vāgmiṣu
eloquent.
In this way King Indra, in order to steal the horse from King Pṛthu’s sacrifice, adopted several orders of sannyāsa. Some sannyāsīs go naked, and sometimes they wear red garments and pass under the name of kāpālika. These are simply symbolic representations of their sinful activities. These so-called sannyāsīs are very much appreciated by sinful men because they are all godless atheists and very expert in putting forward arguments and reasons to support their case. We must know, however, that they are only passing as adherents of religion and are not so in fact. Unfortunately, bewildered persons accept them as religious, and being attracted to them, they spoil their life.
Purport

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, men in this Age of Kali are short-lived, devoid of spiritual knowledge, and susceptible to accept false religious systems due to their unfortunate condition. Thus they always remain mentally disturbed. The Vedic śāstras practically prohibit the adoption of sannyāsa in the Age of Kali because less intelligent men may accept the sannyāsa order for cheating purposes. Actually the only religion is the religion of surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We must serve the Lord in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. All other systems of sannyāsa and religion are actually not bona fide. In this age they are simply passing for religious systems. This is most regrettable.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When Indra stole the horse with a desire to stop the sacrifice of Pṛthu, people’s minds became attracted to those disguises of heretics which he assumed and rejected, thinking by mistake that these resemblances to dharma, in the form of going naked, wearing red cloth and speaking skillfully, were real dharma. The foolish became attracted to the clothing which Indra accepted and later rejected. “Naked persons” refers to the Jains. “Wearing red cloth” refers to the Buddhists. Ādīṣu (etc.) refers to followers of Śiva who carry a skull and other as well. Upadharma means resembling dharma, but not dharma. They speak with instantly charming words (peśaleṣu vāgmiṣu), skilful at logic.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Indra adopted naked or red-cloth sannyāsa; modern fallen souls love such irregular orders. Counterfeit asceticism has a long lineage; learn to spot the real article.
Reflection Questions
  • Which 'naked' or 'kāpālika' mode of supposed renunciation in my era misleads sincere seekers?
  • Where am I myself attracted to the counterfeit because the real article is more demanding?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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