FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.16

भृत्यप्रसादाभिमुखं द‍ृगासवं प्रसन्नहासारुणलोचनाननम् । किरीटिनं कुण्डलिनं चतुर्भुजं पीतांशुकं वक्षसि लक्षितं श्रिया ॥ १६ ॥
bhṛtya-prasādābhimukhaṁ dṛg-āsavaṁ
[bhritya-prasaadaabhimukham drig-aasavam]
prasanna-hāsāruṇa-locanānanam
[prasanna-haasaaruna-lochanaananam]
kirīṭinaṁ kuṇḍalinaṁ catur-bhujaṁ
[kireetinam kundalinam chatur-bhujam]
pītāṁśukaṁ vakṣasi lakṣitaṁ śriyā
[peetaamshukam vakshasi lakshitam shriyaa]
bhṛtya — the servitor prasāda — affection abhimukham — favorably facing dṛk — the very sight āsavam — an intoxication prasanna — very much pleased hāsa — smile aruṇa — reddish locana — eyes ānanam — face kirīṭinam — with helmet kuṇḍalinam — with earrings catuḥ-bhujam — with four hands pīta — yellow aṁśukam — dress vakṣasi — on the chest lakṣitam — marked śriyā — with the goddess of fortune.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
bhṛtya-prasādābhimukhaṁ dṛg-āsavaṁ
bhṛtya
the servitor
prasāda
affection
abhimukham
favorably facing
dṛk
the very sight
āsavam
an intoxication
prasanna-hāsāruṇa-locanānanam
prasanna
very much pleased
hāsa
smile
aruṇa
reddish
locana
eyes
ānanam
face
kirīṭinaṁ kuṇḍalinaṁ catur-bhujaṁ
kirīṭinam
with helmet
kuṇḍalinam
with earrings
catuḥ-bhujam
with four hands
pītāṁśukaṁ vakṣasi lakṣitaṁ śriyā
pīta
yellow
aṁśukam
dress
vakṣasi
on the chest
lakṣitam
marked
śriyā
with the goddess of fortune.
The Personality of Godhead, seen leaning favorably towards His loving servitors, His very sight intoxicating and attractive, appeared to be very much satisfied. He had a smiling face decorated with an enchanting reddish hue. He was dressed in yellow robes and wore earrings and a helmet on his head. He had four hands, and His chest was marked with the lines of the goddess of fortune.

In the Padma Purāṇa, Uttara-khaṇḍa, there is a full description of the yoga-pīṭha, or the particular place where the Lord is in audience to His eternal devotees. In that yoga-pīṭha, the personifications of religion, knowledge, opulence and renunciation are all seated at the lotus feet of the Lord. The four Vedas, namely Ṛk, Sāma, Yajur and Atharva, are present there personally to advise the Lord. The sixteen energies headed by Caṇḍa are all present there. Caṇḍa and Kumuda are the first two doorkeepers, at the middle door are the doorkeepers named Bhadra and Subhadra, and at the last door are Jaya and Vijaya. There are other doorkeepers also, named Kumuda, Kumudākṣa, Puṇḍarīka, Vāmana, Śaṅkukarṇa, Sarvanetra, Sumukha, etc. The Lord’s palace is well decorated and protected by the above-mentioned doorkeepers.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The Lord, desiring to give mercy to his servants, was a joy to the eyes of the devotees. He had a joyful smile and eyes tinged with red. He had a crown on his head, and wore earrings. He had four arms, wore yellow cloth and on the left side of his chest was a golden line.
Commentary

He is the giver of joy for those who see him (dṛg-āsavam). With the mention of yellow cloth, his dark complexion should also be understood. He is decorated with a golden line on the left side of his chest (śriyā).

The Lord leaned favorably toward His servants — smiling, with a reddish hue, in yellow robes, earrings, helmet, four arms, Lakṣmī's mark on His chest. Even within the spiritual world, the Person has form, fashion, and an audience hall.
Reflection Questions
  • Does my picture of God's beauty include this kind of specific, almost royal, detail?
  • What does the Lord's beautiful form ask of my own care for form?
📝 My note

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