1354 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 31

PURPORT

There are many instances in the history of the world of a great
conqueror’s being captivated by the charms of a Cleopatra. One has to
study the captivating potency of woman, and man’s attraction for
that potency. From what source was this generated? According to
Vedanta-sutra, we can understand that everything is generated from the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is enunciated there, janmady asya
yatah. This means that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or the
Supreme Person, Brahman, the Absolute Truth, is the source from whom
everything emanates. The captivating power of woman, and man’s suscep-
tibility to such attraction, must also exist in the Supreme Personality of
Godhead in the spiritual world and must be represented in the transcen-
dental pastimes of the Lord.

The Lord is the Supreme Person, the supreme male. As a common male
wants to be attracted by a female, similarly, that propensity is in the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. He also wants to be attracted by the
beautiful features of a woman. Now the question is, if He wants to be
captivated by such womanly attraction, would He be attracted by any
material woman? It is not possible. Even persons who are in this material
existence can give up womanly attraction if they are attracted by the
Supreme Brahman. Such was the case with Haridasa Thakura. A beautiful
prostitute tried to attract him in the dead of night, but since’ he was
situated in devotional service, in transcendental love of Godhead, Haridasa
Thakura was not captivated. Rather, he turned the prostitute into a great
devotee by his transcendental association. This material attraction, there-
fore, certainly cannot attract the Supreme Lord. When He wants to be
attracted by a woman, He has to create such a woman from His own
energy. That woman is Radharani. It is explained by the Gosvamis that
Radharani is the manifestation of the pleasure potency of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. When the Supreme Lord wants to derive transcen-
dental pleasure, He has to create a woman from His internal potency. Thus
the tendency to be attracted by womanly beauty is natural because it
exists in the spiritual world. In the material world it is reflected per-
vertedly, and therefore there are so many inebrieties.

Instead of being attracted by material beauty, if one is accustomed to
be attracted by the beauty of Radharani and Krsna, then the statement in
Bhagavad-gita, param drstva nivartate, holds true. When one is attracted by
the transcendental beauty of Radha and Krsna, he is no longer attracted
by material feminine beauty. That is the special significance of Radha-
