FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.14.9

क्‍वचिच्च वात्यौपम्यया प्रमदयाऽऽरोहमारोपितस्तत्कालरजसा रजनीभूत इवासाधुमर्यादो रजस्वलाक्षोऽपि दिग्देवता अतिरजस्वलमतिर्न विजानाति ॥ ९ ॥
kvacic ca vātyaupamyayā pramadayāroham āropitas tat-kāla-rajasā rajanī-bhūta ivāsādhu-maryādo rajas-valākṣo ’pi dig-devatā atirajas-vala-matir na vijānāti.
[kvachich cha vaatyaupamyayaa pramadayaaroham aaropitas tat-kaala-rajasaa rajanee-bhoota ivaasaadhu-maryaado rajas-valaaksho ’pi dig-devataa atirajas-vala-matir na vijaanaati.]
Word-for-word
kvacit — sometimes ca — also vātyā aupamyayā — compared to a whirlwind pramadayā — by a beautiful woman āroham āropitaḥ — raised onto the lap for sex enjoyment tat-kāla-rajasā — by the passion of lusty desires at that moment rajanī-bhūtaḥ — the darkness of night iva — like asādhu-maryādaḥ — who is without proper respect for the higher witnesses rajaḥ-vala-akṣaḥ — blinded by strong lusty desires api — certainly dik-devatāḥ — the demigods in charge of different directions, like the sun and the moon atirajaḥ-vala-matiḥ — whose mind is overcome by lust na vijānāti — he does not know (that witnesses all around take note of his impudent sexual act).
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kvacic ca vātyaupamyayā pramadayāroham āropitas tat-kāla-rajasā rajanī-bhūta ivāsādhu-maryādo rajas-valākṣo ’pi dig-devatā atirajas-vala-matir na vijānāti.
kvacit
sometimes
ca
also
vātyā aupamyayā
compared to a whirlwind
pramadayā
by a beautiful woman
āroham āropitaḥ
raised onto the lap for sex enjoyment
tat-kāla-rajasā
by the passion of lusty desires at that moment
rajanī-bhūtaḥ
the darkness of night
iva
like
asādhu-maryādaḥ
who is without proper respect for the higher witnesses
rajaḥ-vala-akṣaḥ
blinded by strong lusty desires
api
certainly
dik-devatāḥ
the demigods in charge of different directions, like the sun and the moon
atirajaḥ-vala-matiḥ
whose mind is overcome by lust
na vijānāti
he does not know (that witnesses all around take note of his impudent sexual act).
Sometimes, as if blinded by the dust of a whirlwind, the conditioned soul sees the beauty of the opposite sex, which is called pramadā. Being thus bewildered, he is raised upon the lap of a woman, and at that time his good senses are overcome by the force of passion. He thus becomes almost blind with lusty desire and disobeys the rules and regulations governing sex life. He does not know that his disobedience is witnessed by different demigods, and he enjoys illicit sex in the dead of night, not seeing the future punishment awaiting him.
Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.11) it is said: dharmāviruddho bhūteṣu kāmo ’smi bharatarṣabha. Sex is allowed only for the begetting of children, not for enjoyment. One can indulge in sex to beget a good child for the benefit of the family, society and world. Otherwise, sex is against the rules and regulations of religious life. A materialistic person does not believe that everything is managed in nature, and he does not know that if one does something wrong, he is witnessed by different demigods. A person enjoys illicit sex, and due to his blind, lusty desire, he thinks that no one can see him, but this illicit sex is thoroughly observed by the agents of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore the person is punished in so many ways. Presently in Kali-yuga there are many pregnancies due to illicit sex, and sometimes abortions ensue. These sinful activities are witnessed by the agents of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and a man and woman who create such a situation are punished in the future by the stringent laws of material nature ( daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā ). Illicit sex is never excused, and those who indulge in it are punished life after life. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (16.20) :

āsurīṁ yonim āpannā mūḍhā janmani janmani mām aprāpyaiva kaunteya tato yānty adhamāṁ gatim

“Attaining repeated birth among the species of demoniac life, such persons can never approach Me. Gradually they sink down to the most abominable type of existence.”

The Supreme Personality of Godhead does not allow anyone to act against the stringent laws of material nature; therefore illicit sex is punished life after life. Illicit sex creates pregnancies, and these unwanted pregnancies lead to abortion. Those involved become implicated in these sins, so much so that they are punished in the same way the next life. Thus in the next life they also enter the womb of a mother and are killed in the same way. All these things can be avoided by remaining on the transcendental platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In this way one does not commit sinful activity. Illicit sex is the most prominent sin due to lusty desire. When one associates with the mode of passion, he is implicated in suffering life after life.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Sometimes he places on his lap a beautiful woman, like a whirlwind, and by the impulse of passion, like dust, ignoring the rules of good conduct, his intelligence becomes blinded by passion, like getting dust in his eye, and he cannot recognize the devatās of the directions who are witnesses, and have become invisible to him. This verse explains the whirlwind. Having a woman on his lap is like being afflicted by a whirlwind. His vision is covered by the impulse of passion, like being covered by dust. His intelligence becomes blinded by lust and he does not recognize the devatās of the directions such as the sun and fire, who witnesses, who have become invisible (rajanī-bhūta).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The pramadā — woman as embodied attraction — can blind even an otherwise sober person with passion. Sex without dharmic purpose is one of the most reliable forces of bewilderment. Use this knowledge, don't fight it abstractly.
Reflection Questions
  • Where has attraction blinded your good judgment recently, and what would have helped you see clearly?
  • What boundary regarding sexuality, kept faithfully, would most stabilize your inner life?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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