Text
dṛṣṭvā tāṁ kāma-liptena
bāhunā parirambhitām
jagāma hṛc-chaya-vaśaṁ
sahasaiva vimohitaḥ
Synonyms
dṛṣṭvā—by seeing; tam—her (the prostitute); kama-liptena—decorated with turmeric to incite lusty desires; bahuna—with the arm; parirambhitām—embraced; jagāma—went; hṛt-saya—of lusty desires within the heart; vasam—under the control; sahasa—suddenly; eva—indeed; vimohitah—being illusioned. ¶
Translation
The śūdra, his arm decorated with turmeric powder, was embracing the prostitute. When Ajāmila saw her, the dormant lusty desires in his heart awakened, and in illusion he fell under their control. ¶
Purport
It is said that if one’s body is smeared with turmeric, it attracts the lusty desires of the opposite sex. The word kāma-liptena indicates that the śūdra was decorated with turmeric smeared on his body. ¶