FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.15.41

विद्युत्क्षिपन्मकरकुण्डलमण्डनार्ह- गण्डस्थलोन्नसमुखं मणिमत्किरीटम् । दोर्दण्डषण्डविवरे हरता परार्ध्य- हारेण कन्धरगतेन च कौस्तुभेन ॥ ४१ ॥
vidyut-kṣipan-makara-kuṇḍala-maṇḍanārha-
[vidyut-kshipan-makara-kundala-mandanaarha-]
gaṇḍa-sthalonnasa-mukhaṁ maṇimat-kirīṭam
[ganda-sthalonnasa-mukham manimat-kireetam]
dor-daṇḍa-ṣaṇḍa-vivare haratā parārdhya-
[dor-danda-shanda-vivare harataa paraardhya-]
hāreṇa kandhara-gatena ca kaustubhena
[haarena kandhara-gatena cha kaustubhena]
vidyut — lightning kṣipat — outshining makara — alligator shaped kuṇḍala — earrings maṇḍana — decoration arha — as it fits gaṇḍa-sthala — cheeks unnasa — prominent nose mukham — countenance maṇi-mat — gem-studded kirīṭam — crown doḥ-daṇḍa — of His four stout arms ṣaṇḍa — group vivare — between haratā — charming para-ardhya — by the most precious hāreṇa — necklace kandhara-gatena — adorning His neck ca — and kaustubhena — by the Kaustubha jewel.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vidyut-kṣipan-makara-kuṇḍala-maṇḍanārha-
vidyut
lightning
kṣipat
outshining
makara
alligator shaped
kuṇḍala
earrings
maṇḍana
decoration
arha
as it fits
gaṇḍa-sthalonnasa-mukhaṁ maṇimat-kirīṭam
gaṇḍa-sthala
cheeks
unnasa
prominent nose
mukham
countenance
maṇi-mat
gem-studded
kirīṭam
crown
dor-daṇḍa-ṣaṇḍa-vivare haratā parārdhya-
doḥ-daṇḍa
of His four stout arms
ṣaṇḍa
group
vivare
between
haratā
charming
para-ardhya
by the most precious
hāreṇa kandhara-gatena ca kaustubhena
hāreṇa
necklace
kandhara-gatena
adorning His neck
ca
and
kaustubhena
by the Kaustubha jewel.
His countenance was distinguished by cheeks that enhanced the beauty of His alligator-shaped pendants, which outshone lightning. His nose was prominent, and His head was covered with a gem-studded crown. A charming necklace hung between His stout arms, and His neck was adorned with the gem known by the name Kaustubha.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
His cheeks were decorated with makara earrings reflecting his effulgence. He had a high nose, a jeweled crown, and between his four arms on his chest was nestled an attractive, valuable necklace with the Kaustubha. He had cheeks worthy of ornamentation by earrings shaped like makaras, throwing off light radiating from his effulgence. His face has a raised nose. Between (vivare) his group of arms was a valuable (parārdha) necklace hanging on his chest (kandhara), which attracted the sages. It hid between his strong arms for fear of being stolen by them. Or between his shoulders, on a gold chain hanging down to his chest was the necklace with the Kaustubha jewel. These phrases are also grammatically connected with verse 39.
The Lord's face is detailed in glory — alligator earrings outshining lightning, gem-studded crown, Kaustubha jewel. The eye that drinks in these specifics is being trained for transcendence. Devotional aesthetics is rigorous attention to detail.
Reflection Questions
  • Which specific feature of the Lord's form is my eye most ready to dwell on?
  • Could daily contemplation of one detail train my attention away from worldly glamour?
📝 My note

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