52 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 7
One should not remain in a secluded place with a woman, even one’s
mother, sister, or daughter. Nonetheless, although one is strictly
prohibited from staying with a woman in a secluded place, Narada Muni
gave shelter to Prahlada Maharaja’s young mother, who rendered service
to him with great devotion and faith. Does this mean that Narada Muni
transgressed the Vedic injunctions? Certainly he did not. Such injunc-
tions are intended for mundane creatures, but Narada Muni is transcen-
dental to mundane categories. Narada Muni is a great saint and is tran-
scendentally situated. Therefore, although he was a young man, he could
give shelter to a young woman and accept her service. Haridasa Thakura
also spoke with a young woman, a prostitute, in the dead of night, but the
woman could not deviate his mind. Instead, she became a Vaisnavi, a
pure devotee, by the benediction of Haridasa Thakura. Ordinary persons,
however, should not imitate such highly elevated devotees. Ordinary
persons must strictly observe the rules and regulations by staying aloof
from the association of women. No one should imitate Narada Muni or
Haridasa Thakura. It is said, vaisnavera kriyd-mudra vijie na bujhaya.
Even if a man is very advanced in learning, he cannot understand the
behavior of a Vaisnava. Anyone can take shelter of a pure Vaisnava,
without fear. Therefore in the previous verse it has been distinctly said,
devarser antike sdkuto-bhayd: Kayadhu, the mother of Prahlada
Maharaja, stayed under the protection of Narada Muni without fear from
any direction. Similarly, Narada Muni, in his transcendental position,
stayed with the young woman without fear of deviation. Narada Muni,
Haridasa Thakura and similar Gcdryas especially empowered to broad-
cast the glories of the Lord cannot be brought down to the material plat-
form. Therefore one is strictly forbidden to think that the dcdrya is an
ordinary human being (gurusu nara-matih).
TEXT 15
AT: ATOM: AITIEATAAT |
THA TS gr a ATACTeTT Fy LI
rsth kadrunikas tasyah
pradad ubhayam isvarah
