Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 7
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi and the Lord’s Unlimited Incarnations
इन्द्रो विशङ्क्य मम धाम जिघृक्षतीति कामं न्ययुङ्क्त सगणं स बदर्युपाख्यम् । गत्वाप्सरोगणवसन्तसुमन्दवातै: स्त्रीप्रेक्षणेषुभिरविध्यदतन्महिज्ञ: ॥ ७ ॥
indro viśaṅkya mama dhāma jighṛkṣatīti kāmaṁ nyayuṅkta sa-gaṇaṁ sa badary-upākhyam gatvāpsaro-gaṇa-vasanta-sumanda-vātaiḥ strī-prekṣaṇeṣubhir avidhyad atan-mahi-jñaḥ
Nangamba si Indra, iniisip na si Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi ay magiging napakamakapangyarihan sa matinding pagtitika at aagawin ang kanyang kahariang makalangit. Kaya, hindi nalalaman ang transendental na kaluwalhatian ng avatāra ng Panginoon, ipinadala niya si Kāmadeva at ang kanyang mga kasama sa tirahan ng Panginoon sa Badarikāśrama. Doon, ang mabangong banayad na simoy ng tagsibol at ang pangkat ng mga apsarā ay lumikha ng mapang-akit na kapaligiran, at sinalakay ni Kāmadeva ang Panginoon sa pamamagitan ng mga palaso na anyo ng di-mapipigilang sulyap ng magagandang babae.
This verse and the following nine verses illustrate the Personality of Godhead’s opulence of supreme renunciation. The word atan-mahi-jñaḥ, “not understanding the glories of the Lord,” indicates that King Indra was placing the Personality of Godhead on the same level as he himself, considering the Lord an ordinary enjoyer who would be attracted by mundane sex life. Indra’s plot to cause the falldown of Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi could not affect the Lord, but it reveals the shortsightedness of Indra himself. Because Indra is attached to his heavenly kingdom, he took it for granted that the Supreme Lord was performing austerities to acquire such flickering phantasmagoria as the kingdom of heaven ( tridaśa-pūr ākāśa-puṣpāyate ).
FAQs
This verse shows Indra’s fear that a powerful ascetic might “take his position,” so he uses Kāma and apsarās to disrupt the sage’s austerity and spiritual strength.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while narrating how Indra, out of suspicion, sent Cupid and apsarās to Badarī to tempt the sage.
The verse highlights that temptation often targets one’s spiritual focus; practical application is to strengthen discipline and devotion, avoid provocative environments, and keep the mind anchored in higher purpose.