Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.55.27-28
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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jala-da-śyāmam
—
dark-blue like a rain cloud
Compound: jala-da (water-giver, cloud) + śyāmam (dark blue). Kṛṣṇa's signature complexion. The first listed feature is the diagnostic one; everyone in Dvārakā would recognize it instantly.
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pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam
—
yellow silk-garmented
Compound: pīta (yellow) + kauśeya (silk) + vāsasam (clothed). Pītāmbara — the second diagnostic of Kṛṣṇa's image, immortalized in every Vaiṣṇava temple. The son inherits the dress as well as the body.
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mukha-ambhojam
—
lotus face
Compound: mukha (face) + ambhojam (lotus). The standard Vaiṣṇava facial image — round, open, fragrant, opening toward bhaktas as a lotus opens to the sun. Gauḍīyas dwell on Kṛṣṇa's mukha-ambhoja in countless verses; here it migrates to Pradyumna.
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nīla-vakra-ālaka-ālibhiḥ
—
with rows of curling blue locks
Compound: nīla (blue) + vakra (curling) + ālaka (locks of hair) + ālibhiḥ (with rows). The hair-style is so specific that it functions as a fingerprint. The Bhāgavatam refuses generic description even at the cost of polysyllabic verses.
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hrītāḥ-nililyuḥ
—
becoming bashful, they hid
Compound verbal phrase: hrītāḥ (made shy) + nililyuḥ (concealed themselves). The queens' modesty is the proof of identification — they would only hide from their own husband. Hrī (shyness) is a Vaiṣṇavī signature; the body responds correctly even when the mind misreads.
Because he was similar to Kṛṣṇa the women thought he was Kṛṣṇa. He is described by seven phrases. His eyes were pink at the edges like lotus petals (tāmrākṣam—red eyes). That is the meaning of the phrase “red eyes” since usually his eyes are compared to lotus petals. Ha indicates surprise.
Because he was similar to Kṛṣṇa, the women thought he was Kṛṣṇa. He is described by seven phrases. He was dark like a fresh cloud about to shower rain. His eyes were pink at the edges like lotus petals (tāmrākṣam—red eyes). This was previously described. He had a charming face. This indicates that his nose and other features were beautiful. He was approaching new youth, with soft qualities. Dhanyāyāḥ khalu putro ‘yam’ vartate navayauvanaḥ: this son has reached the age of new youth. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa) His lotus face was decorated with earrings. The earrings were like bees on a lotus. Successively the features reminded the women of Kṛṣṇa. Only this much is described to indicate other features of beauty also, since his beauty was extraordinary. Or by that alone they thought he was Kṛṣṇa. Or the description indicates his beauty. Yellow cloth shows the skill in ornamentation. His long arms indicate the symmetry of his limbs. His red eyes indicate his beauty. His smile indicates his sweetness. His attractive face indicates the natural beauty of his face and its elements as well as his age. The special beauty of his face is indicated by his locks and earrings. The queens hid themselves here and there, because they were bashful. Ha indicates surprise, or “clearly.”
- Where does someone in your family carry an unmistakable resemblance to the source?
- How do you honor the source through the descendant?
Dark-blue complexion, yellow silk, long arms, lotus face, curling blue locks — the women see Kṛṣṇa Himself walk in, and hide in shyness. Pradyumna's body is so exactly the father's that the queens of Kṛṣṇa mistake the son for the husband. Inheritance, in Bhagavān's family, is iconographic to the millimeter.
My note
Source: vedabase.io