TEXT 15
rupam tapodhana tapas caratam tapoghnam
hy etat tu kena tapasa bhavatopalabdham
cartum tapo rhasi maya saha mitra mahyam
kim va prasidati sa vai bhava-bhavano me
SYNONYMS
rupambeauty; tapah-dhanaO best of the sages performing austerity; tapah caratamof persons engaged in executing austerities and penances; tapah-ghnamwhich dismantles the austerities; hicertainly; etatthis; tuindeed; kenaby what; tapasaausterity; bhavataby you; upalabdhamachieved; cartumto execute; tapahausterity; arhasiyou ought; maya sahawith me; mitramy dear friend; mahyamunto me; kim vaor maybe; prasidatiis pleased; sahhe; vaicertainly; bhava-bhavanahthe creator of this universe; mewith me.
TRANSLATION
O best among those performing austerities, where did you get this wonderful beauty that dismantles the austerities performed by others? Where have you learned this art? What austerity have you undergone to achieve this beauty, my dear friend? I desire that you join me to perform austerity and penance, for it may be that the creator of the universe, Lord Brahma, being pleased with me, has sent you to become my wife.
PURPORT
Agnidhra appreciated the wonderful beauty of Purvacitti. Indeed, he was surprised to see such exceptional beauty, which must have been the result of past austerities and penances. He therefore asked the girl whether she had achieved such beauty just to break the penances and austerities of others. He thought that Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, might have been pleased with him and might therefore have sent her to become his wife. He requested Purvacitti to become his wife so that together they could perform austerities and penances in family life. In other words, a suitable wife helps her husband perform penances and austerities in household life if both of them are on the same elevated platform of spiritual understanding. Without spiritual understanding, husband and wife cannot be equally situated. Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, is interested in good progeny. Therefore unless he is pleased, one cannot get a suitable wife. In fact, Lord Brahma is worshiped in marriage ceremonies. In India even today, wedding invitations are still issued with a picture of Lord Brahma on the face of the card.

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