FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.2.17

श्रीशुक उवाच इति ललनानुनयातिविशारदो ग्राम्यवैदग्ध्यया परिभाषया तां विबुधवधूं विबुधमतिरधिसभाजयामास ॥ १७ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca
[shree-shuka uvaacha]
iti lalanānunayāti-viśārado grāmya-vaidagdhyayā paribhāṣayā tāṁ vibudha-vadhūṁ vibudha-matir adhisabhājayām āsa.
[iti lalanaanunayaati-vishaarado graamya-vaidagdhyayaa paribhaashayaa taam vibudha-vadhoom vibudha-matir adhisabhaajayaam aasa.]
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said iti — thus lalanā — women anunaya — in winning over ati-viśāradaḥ — very expert grāmya-vaidagdhyayā — expert in fulfilling one’s material desires paribhāṣayā — by selected words tām — her vibudha-vadhūm — the celestial girl vibudha-matiḥ — Āgnīdhra, who possessed intelligence like that of the demigods adhisabhājayām āsa — gained the favor of.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-śuka uvāca
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
iti lalanānunayāti-viśārado grāmya-vaidagdhyayā paribhāṣayā tāṁ vibudha-vadhūṁ vibudha-matir adhisabhājayām āsa.
iti
thus
lalanā
women
anunaya
in winning over
ati-viśāradaḥ
very expert
grāmya-vaidagdhyayā
expert in fulfilling one’s material desires
paribhāṣayā
by selected words
tām
her
vibudha-vadhūm
the celestial girl
vibudha-matiḥ
Āgnīdhra, who possessed intelligence like that of the demigods
adhisabhājayām āsa
gained the favor of.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Mahārāja Āgnīdhra, whose intelligence was like that of a demigod, knew the art of flattering women to win them to his side. He therefore pleased that celestial girl with his lusty words and gained her favor.

Since King Āgnīdhra was a devotee, he actually had no attraction for material enjoyment, but because he wanted a wife for progeny and Lord Brahmā had sent Pūrvacitti for this purpose, he expertly pleased her with flattering words. Women are attracted by a man’s flattering words. One who is expert in this art of flattery is called vidagdha.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Śukadeva said: Being expert at entreating women, Āgnīdhra, who had the intelligence of a devatā, worshipped this devatā woman with words filled with the expertise of a materialist. His words had the cleverness of a materialist.
Even good intelligence can be conscripted into the service of lust through flattery and clever speech. Skill misused this way is worse than no skill at all. Devotional intelligence is intelligence aimed at the Lord.
Reflection Questions
  • Where are you using your real talents to chase outcomes you would rather not own up to?
  • What would your gifts produce if they were aimed entirely at devotional service?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 2