Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.15.40
पीतांशुके पृथुनितम्बिनि विस्फुरन्त्या
काञ्च्यालिभिर्विरुतया वनमालया च ।
वल्गुप्रकोष्ठवलयं विनतासुतांसे
विन्यस्तहस्तमितरेण धुनानमब्जम् ॥ ४० ॥
pītāṁśuke pṛthu-nitambini visphurantyā
[peetaamshuke prithu-nitambini visphurantyaa]
kāñcyālibhir virutayā vana-mālayā ca
[kaanchyaalibhir virutayaa vana-maalayaa cha]
valgu-prakoṣṭha-valayaṁ vinatā-sutāṁse
[valgu-prakoshtha-valayam vinataa-sutaamse]
vinyasta-hastam itareṇa dhunānam abjam
[vinyasta-hastam itarena dhunaanam abjam]
Word-for-word
pīta-aṁśuke
—
covered with a yellow cloth
pṛthu-nitambini
—
on His large hips
visphurantyā
—
shining brightly
kāñcyā
—
with a girdle
alibhiḥ
—
by the bees
virutayā
—
humming
vana-mālayā
—
with a garland of fresh flowers
ca
—
and
valgu
—
lovely
prakoṣṭha
—
wrists
valayam
—
bracelets
vinatā-suta
—
of Garuḍa, the son of Vinatā
aṁse
—
on the shoulder
vinyasta
—
rested
hastam
—
one hand
itareṇa
—
with another hand
dhunānam
—
being twirled
abjam
—
a lotus flower.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
pītāṁśuke pṛthu-nitambini visphurantyā
pīta-aṁśuke
covered with a yellow cloth
pṛthu-nitambini
on His large hips
visphurantyā
shining brightly
kāñcyālibhir virutayā vana-mālayā ca
kāñcyā
with a girdle
alibhiḥ
by the bees
virutayā
humming
vana-mālayā
with a garland of fresh flowers
ca
and
valgu-prakoṣṭha-valayaṁ vinatā-sutāṁse
valgu
lovely
prakoṣṭha
wrists
valayam
bracelets
vinatā-suta
of Garuḍa, the son of Vinatā
aṁse
on the shoulder
vinyasta-hastam itareṇa dhunānam abjam
vinyasta
rested
hastam
one hand
itareṇa
with another hand
dhunānam
being twirled
abjam
a lotus flower.
He was adorned with a girdle that shone brightly on the yellow cloth covering His large hips, and He wore a garland of fresh flowers which was distinguished by humming bees. His lovely wrists were graced with bracelets, and He rested one of His hands on the shoulder of Garuḍa, His carrier, and twirled a lotus with another hand.
Purport
Here is a full description of the Personality of Godhead as personally experienced by the sages. The Lord’s personal body was covered with yellow robes, and His waist was thin. In Vaikuṇṭha, whenever there is a flower garland on the chest of the Personality of Godhead or any one of His associates, it is described that the humming bees are there. All these features were very beautiful and attractive for the devotees. One of the Lord’s hands rested on His carrier, Garuḍa, and in another hand He twirled a lotus flower. These are personal characteristics of the Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
He had broad hips dressed in yellow cloth, covered with a shining belt, and was bedecked with a garland surrounded by humming bees. His wrists were decorated with bracelets, and while resting his left hand on the shoulder of Garuḍa, he twirled a lotus in his right hand.
Locative case is used to express attraction to the hips. On his hips was placed yellow cloth. This becomes the focus of attention. On the cloth was a shining belt, which becomes the object of attention. Then over that was placed a garland, surrounded by humming bees. The garland and then the bees become the object of attention. The beeṣ have been given dominion over all things by the Lord. These words in the instrumental case are related to the phrase ātma-dhisnyam (the abode of Vaikuṇṭha) in the previous verse. Having bracelets on his attractive wrists, he placed his left hand on the shoulder of Garuḍa. There is a version with vinasya, a verb from. In that case valgu-prakoṣṭha-valayaṁ modified hastam. In his right hand he was twirling a lotus. This indicates that he made the fixed realization of Brahman in the lotus of their hearts insignificant by showing them his sweetness. “Since you are fixed in the bliss of impersonal realization, convinced that it is the best, why do you disturb your hearts? Why don’ṭ you steady yourselves? Do not give up your steadiness in Brahman.” In this way, joking with them is suggested.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Inquiry here is not casual curiosity — it is a serious approach made by someone ready to be changed. The verse asks the reader to examine the quality of their own inquiries.
Reflection Questions
- What question would you bring to a realized teacher if one sat across from you this evening?
- What would it cost you to approach a teacher in the posture this verse models?
My note
Source: vedabase.io