PLATE SEVEN

Long, long ago, Narada Muni existed as the Gandharva known as
Upabarhana. With his beautiful face, pleasing, attractive bodily struc-
ture, and decorations of flower garlands and sandalwood pulp, he was
most pleasing to the women in his city, and thus he was bewildered, al-
ways feeling lusty desires. Once there was a saikirtana festival to glorify
the Supreme Lord in an assembly of the demigods, and the Gandharvas
and Apsaras were invited by the prajdpatis to take part in it. At that
festival, Upabarhana, surrounded by lusty women, began singing ordi-
nary songs. Because of this, the prajapatis, the great demigods in charge
of the affairs of the universe, forcefully cursed him with these words:
“Because you have committed an offense, may you immediately become
a Stidra, devoid of beauty.” (pp. 281-285)
