Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.44.11
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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vadana - ambujam
—
lotus face
Compound: vadana (face) + ambuja (lotus). The Bhāgavatam's most-used metaphor for Kṛṣṇa's face. In Vraja the gopīs drink it (cf. 14); in the arena the women describe it. Same face, two rasas.
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śrama - vāri
—
water of exertion (perspiration)
Compound: śrama (labor) + vāri (water). The same śrama-vocabulary used of Yaśodā churning butter — His body sweats here for the same reason hers sweat there: love that does not refuse the cost of effort.
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padma - kośam
—
lotus calyx
Compound: padma + kośa (the bud / cup of the flower). Specifically the central calyx where dew collects — the women's simile is exact: not the petals but the pollen-bearing center, dotted with morning water.
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valgataḥ
—
moving (about), darting
Present participle of √valg — to leap, dance. The verb the gopīs use of His Vraja-dance; the women use it now of His arena-footwork. The poet quietly reminds the listener that even mortal combat is, for Him, dance.
"But Krsna and Balarama do not appear to get tired. There is no fault in this match since they are seem to be very strong." Fearing such an objection they speak this verse. "See, Krsna is showing fatigue, with perspiration all over his moon-like face, being pursued here and there by the opponent." Vadana ambuja is here taken as moon face, since the world ambuja and mean lotus, moon or conch. Comparison with a lotus is given later in the verse.
“Seeing they are both strong since both are not tired, there is no fault.” This is not true. Kṛṣṇa is tired. He appeared to be tired for those who had affection for him, and not for all people there, just as Kṛṣṇa appeared like a thunderbolt for the wrestlers. His face is compared to a lotus (vadanāmbujam) and this is then repeated with the phrase padma-kośam. His face is compared to a lotus because it possesses the beauty taken from a host of lotuses. Another comparison is then made, on realizing that his perspiration is like water drops on the lotus petal. For meter the comparison is contracted from śrama-vāribhiḥ uptam, which matches the phrase padma-kośam ivāmbubhiḥ, to śrama-vāryuptam. The word kośam (bud) suggests a slight smile on Kṛṣṇa’s face. Please see this attentively (vīkṣyatām).
- Where do you miss Kṛṣṇa's beauty because you're tracking the fight?
- Could even hard moments be observed as the Lord's beautiful pastime?
His face mid-fight, beaded with sweat, is a lotus dusted with dew at dawn. Even the wrestler's exertion only adorns Him — like a brass lamp that burns brighter when the wind comes, never dimmer. Bhagavān's body is incapable of being made less.
My note
Source: vedabase.io