FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.27.21

कदाचिदटमाना सा ब्रह्मलोकान्महीं गतम् । वव्रे बृहद्‌व्रतं मां तु जानती काममोहिता ॥ २१ ॥
kadācid aṭamānā sā
[kadaachid atamaanaa saa]
brahma-lokān mahīṁ gatam
[brahma-lokaan maheem gatam]
vavre bṛhad-vrataṁ māṁ tu
[vavre brihad-vratam maam tu]
jānatī kāma-mohitā
[jaanatee kaama-mohitaa]
kadācit — once upon a time aṭamānā — traveling sā — she brahma-lokāt — from Brahmaloka, the highest planet mahīm — on the earth gatam — having come vavre — she proposed bṛhat-vratam — avowed brahmacārī mām — unto me tu — then jānatī — knowing kāma-mohitā — being illusioned by lust.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kadācid aṭamānā sā
kadācit
once upon a time
aṭamānā
traveling
sā
she
brahma-lokān mahīṁ gatam
brahma-lokāt
from Brahmaloka, the highest planet
mahīm
on the earth
gatam
having come
vavre bṛhad-vrataṁ māṁ tu
vavre
she proposed
bṛhat-vratam
avowed brahmacārī
mām
unto me
tu
then
jānatī kāma-mohitā
jānatī
knowing
kāma-mohitā
being illusioned by lust.
When I once came to this earth from Brahmaloka, the highest planetary system, the daughter of Time, wandering over the universe, met me. Knowing me to be an avowed brahmacārī, she became lusty and proposed that I accept her.

The great sage Nārada Muni was a naiṣṭhika-brahmacārī — that is, he never had sex life. He was consequently an ever-green youth. Old age, jarā, could not attack him. The invalidity of old age can overcome an ordinary man, but Nārada Muni was different. Taking Nārada Muni to be an ordinary man, the daughter of Time confronted him with her lusty desire. It requires great strength to resist a woman’s attraction. It is difficult for old men, and what to speak of young. Those who live as brahmacārīs must follow in the footsteps of the great sage Nārada Muni, who never accepted the proposals of Jarā. Those who are too much sexually addicted become victims of jarā, and very soon their life span is shortened. Without utilizing the human form of life for Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the victims of jarā die very soon in this world.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
One time, bewildered by lust, knowing that I was a brahmacārī, she proposed on her own to me when I came to earth from Brahmaloka. She thought Nārada was an earthling when he came to the earth. She did not at all reject him even though he was a life-long celibate, or sannyāsī, having great powers.
Once I came from Brahmaloka and Kālakanyā, knowing me a brahmacārī, became lusty and proposed. Even old age tries to attach to the unattached; refusing her is itself a discipline.
Reflection Questions
  • Where does old age try to find purchase even in those who have rejected sense-life?
  • What does it mean that the brahmacārī's refusal becomes a curse with consequences?
📝 My note

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