Shloka 70
Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation
रूपपेशलमाधुर्यसौगन्ध्यप्रियदर्शन: । स्त्रीणां प्रियतमो नित्यं मत्त: स्वपुरलम्पट: ॥ ७० ॥
rūpa-peśala-mādhurya- saugandhya-priya-darśanaḥ strīṇāṁ priyatamo nityaṁ mattaḥ sva-pura-lampaṭaḥ
মোৰ ৰূপ আছিল মনোহৰ, দেহগঠন মধুৰ; সুগন্ধি, পুষ্পমালা আৰু চন্দনৰ লেপেৰে সজ্জিত হৈ মই দৰ্শনত প্ৰিয় আছিলোঁ। মোৰ নগৰৰ নাৰীসকলৰ মই নিত্য প্ৰিয়তম আছিলোঁ, সেয়ে মই মত্ত হৈ কামাসক্ত হৈ থাকিলোঁ।
From the description of the beauty of Nārada Muni when he was one of the denizens of Gandharvaloka, it appears that everyone on that planet is extremely beautiful and pleasing and always decorated with flowers and sandalwood. Upabarhaṇa was Nārada Muni’s name previously. Upabarhaṇa was specifically expert in decorating himself to attract the attention of women, and thus he became a playboy, as described in the next verse. To be a playboy in this life is unfortunate because too much attraction to women will lead one to fall into the association of śūdras, who can easily take advantage of mingling with women without restriction. In this present Age of Kali, when people are mandāḥ sumanda-matayaḥ — very bad because of a śūdra mentality — such free mingling is prominent. Among the higher classes — brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya and vaiśya — there is no chance for men to mingle with women freely, but in the śūdra community such mingling is open. Because there is no cultural education in this Age of Kali, everyone is spiritually untrained, and everyone is therefore to be considered śūdra ( aśuddhāḥ śūdra-kalpā hi brāhmaṇāḥ kali-sambhavāḥ ). When all the people become śūdras, certainly they are very bad ( mandāḥ sumanda-matayaḥ ). Thus they manufacture their own way of life, with the result that they gradually become unfortunate ( manda-bhāgyāḥ ), and furthermore they are always disturbed by various circumstances.
FAQs
This verse portrays how external charm—beauty, sweetness, fragrance, and pleasing looks—can fuel pride and intoxication, leading one to become absorbed in sensual life rather than self-control and dharma.
In Canto 7, Chapter 15, Nārada instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on proper conduct and the pitfalls of uncontrolled desire; this verse highlights the mentality of a lust-driven person as a caution for householders.
Do not let appearance, popularity, or sensual attention inflate ego; cultivate restraint, humility, and purposeful living so attraction does not become addiction.