FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.12.16

तत्तेऽहं दर्शयिष्यामि दिद‍ृक्षो: सुरसत्तम कामिनां बहु मन्तव्यं सङ्कल्पप्रभवोदयम् ॥ १६ ॥
tat te ’haṁ darśayiṣyāmi
[tat te ’ham darshayishyaami]
didṛkṣoḥ sura-sattama
[didrikshoh sura-sattama]
kāmināṁ bahu mantavyaṁ
[kaaminaam bahu mantavyam]
saṅkalpa-prabhavodayam
[sankalpa-prabhavodayam]
tat — that te — unto you aham — I darśayiṣyāmi — shall show didṛkṣoḥ — desirous of seeing sura-sattama — O best of the demigods kāminām — of persons who are very lusty bahu — very much mantavyam — an object of adoration saṅkalpa — lusty desires prabhava-udayam — causing to be strongly aroused.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tat te ’haṁ darśayiṣyāmi
tat
that
te
unto you
didṛkṣoḥ sura-sattama
kāmināṁ bahu mantavyaṁ
aham
I
saṅkalpa-prabhavodayam
darśayiṣyāmi
shall show
didṛkṣoḥ
desirous of seeing
sura-sattama
O best of the demigods
kāminām
of persons who are very lusty
bahu
very much
mantavyam
an object of adoration
saṅkalpa
lusty desires
prabhava-udayam
causing to be strongly aroused.
O best of the demigods, I shall now show you My form that is very much appreciated by those who are lusty. Since you want to see that form, I shall reveal it in your presence.

Lord Śiva’s desiring to see Lord Viṣṇu reveal the most attractive and beautiful form of a woman was certainly a joking affair. Lord Śiva knew that he could not be agitated by any so-called beautiful woman. “The Daityas may have been bewildered,” he thought, “but since even the demigods could not be agitated, what to speak of me, who am the best of all the demigods?” However, because Lord Śiva wanted to see Lord Viṣṇu’s form as a woman, Lord Viṣṇu decided to impersonate a woman and show him a form that would immediately put him in an ocean of lusty desires. In effect, therefore, Lord Viṣṇu told Lord Śiva, “I will show you My form as a woman, and if you become agitated by lusty desires, do not blame Me.” The attractive features of a woman are appreciated by those who are affected by lusty desires, but those who are above such desires, who are on the platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, are very difficult to bewilder. Nonetheless, by the supreme desire of the Personality of Godhead, everything can be done. This was to be a test of whether Lord Śiva could remain unagitated.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O best of the devatās! I shall now show you my form that gives rise to lust and is appreciated by those who are lusty, since you desire to see it. Whatever may be, your purpose in coming so far should not be wasted. Since you want to see it, I will show it. If I do not, your curiosity will not go away. This form gives rise to lust (saṅklapa-prabhava-udayam). Therefore this form is respected by lusty people. However, it cannot produce lust in you, who are the enemy of lust. But if you are curious, then please see it. That is the external meaning. There is however an inner meaning. This desire of you, who are the conqueror of lust and a great yogī, will cause you to fall into the whirlpool of lust. It will not be my fault.
I shall now show you the form appreciated by those who are lusty — since you want to see it. The Lord essentially warns: this is for the lusty; if you become lusty, it shows where you are. Forms are diagnostic.
Reflection Questions
  • What spiritual experience am I asking for that would expose where I actually am?
  • Am I prepared for the Lord's warning that what I want to see may be designed for someone I would not want to be?
📝 My note

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