Srimad Bhagavatam 08.08.12-14- A Chaste Woman Can Save The Civilisation (download mp3)
by Muralidhar Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net
SB 8.8.12
rsayah kalpayam cakrur
abhisekam yatha-vidhi
jagur bhadrani gandharva
natyas ca nanrtur jaguh
Translation:
The great sages performed the bathing ceremony of the goddess of fortune as directed in the authorized scriptures, the Gandharvas chanted all-auspicious Vedic mantras, and the professional women dancers very nicely danced and sang authorized songs prescribed in the Vedas.
SB 8.8.13
megha mrdanga-panava-
murajanaka-gomukhan
vyanadayan sankha-venu-
vinas tumula-nihsvanan
Translation:
The clouds in personified form beat various types of drums, known as mrdangas, panavas, murajas and anakas. They also blew conchshells and bugles known as gomukhas and played flutes and stringed instruments. The combined sound of these instruments was tumultuous.
SB 8.8.14
tato 'bhisisicur devim
sriyam padma-karam satim
digibhah purna-kalasaih
sukta-vakyair dvijeritaih
Translation:
Thereafter, the great elephants from all the directions carried big water jugs full of Ganges water and bathed the goddess of fortune, to the accompaniment of Vedic mantras chanted by learned brahmanas. While thus being bathed, the goddess of fortune maintained her original style, with a lotus flower in her hand, and she appeared very beautiful. The goddess of fortune is the most chaste, for she does not know anyone but the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Purport:
The goddess of fortune, Laksmi, is described in this verse as sriyam, which means that she has six opulences—wealth, strength, influence, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. These opulences are received from the goddess of fortune. Laksmi is addressed here as devi, the goddess, because in Vaikuntha she supplies all opulences to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees, who in this way enjoy natural life in the Vaikuntha planets. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased with His consort, the goddess of fortune, who carries a lotus flower in her hand. Mother Laksmi is described in this verse as sati, the supremely chaste, because she never diverts her attention from the Supreme Personality of Godhead to anyone else.
