FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.28.26

वक्षोऽधिवासमृषभस्य महाविभूते: पुंसां मनोनयननिर्वृतिमादधानम् । कण्ठं च कौस्तुभमणेरधिभूषणार्थं कुर्यान्मनस्यखिललोकनमस्कृतस्य ॥ २६ ॥
vakṣo ’dhivāsam ṛṣabhasya mahā-vibhūteḥ
[vaksho ’dhivaasam rishabhasya mahaa-vibhooteh]
puṁsāṁ mano-nayana-nirvṛtim ādadhānam
[pumsaam mano-nayana-nirvritim aadadhaanam]
kaṇṭhaṁ ca kaustubha-maṇer adhibhūṣaṇārthaṁ
[kantham cha kaustubha-maner adhibhooshanaartham]
kuryān manasy akhila-loka-namaskṛtasya
[kuryaan manasy akhila-loka-namaskritasya]
vakṣaḥ — the chest adhivāsam — the abode ṛṣabhasya — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead mahā-vibhūteḥ — of Mahā-Lakṣmī puṁsām — of persons manaḥ — to the mind nayana — to the eyes nirvṛtim — transcendental pleasure ādadhānam — bestowing kaṇṭham — the neck ca — also kaustubha-maṇeḥ — of the Kaustubha gem adhibhūṣaṇa-artham — which enhances the beauty kuryāt — he should meditate on manasi — in the mind akhila-loka — by the entire universe namaskṛtasya — who is adored.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vakṣo ’dhivāsam ṛṣabhasya mahā-vibhūteḥ
vakṣaḥ
the chest
puṁsāṁ mano-nayana-nirvṛtim ādadhānam
adhivāsam
the abode
ṛṣabhasya
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
kaṇṭhaṁ ca kaustubha-maṇer adhibhūṣaṇārthaṁ
mahā-vibhūteḥ
of Mahā-Lakṣmī
puṁsām
of persons
kuryān manasy akhila-loka-namaskṛtasya
manaḥ
to the mind
nayana
to the eyes
nirvṛtim
transcendental pleasure
ādadhānam
bestowing
kaṇṭham
the neck
ca
also
kaustubha-maṇeḥ
of the Kaustubha gem
adhibhūṣaṇa-artham
which enhances the beauty
kuryāt
he should meditate on
manasi
in the mind
akhila-loka
by the entire universe
namaskṛtasya
who is adored.
The yogī should then meditate on the chest of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the abode of goddess Mahā-Lakṣmī. The Lord’s chest is the source of all transcendental pleasure for the mind and full satisfaction for the eyes. The yogī should then imprint on his mind the neck of the Personality of Godhead, who is adored by the entire universe. The neck of the Lord serves to enhance the beauty of the Kaustubha gem, which hangs on His chest.

In the Upaniṣads it is said that the various energies of the Lord are working to create, destroy and maintain. These inconceivable varieties of energy are stored in the bosom of the Lord. As people generally say, God is all-powerful. That prowess is represented by Mahā-Lakṣmī, the reservoir of all energies, who is situated on the bosom of the transcendental form of the Lord. The yogī who can meditate perfectly on that spot on the transcendental form of the Lord can derive many material powers, which comprise the eight perfections of the yoga system.

It is stated herein that the beauty of the neck of the Lord enhances the beauty of the Kaustubha gem rather than vice versa. The gem itself becomes more beautiful because it is situated on the neck of the Lord. A yogī is therefore recommended to meditate upon the Lord’s neck. The Lord’s transcendental form can either be meditated upon in the mind or placed in a temple in the form of a statue and decorated in such a way that everyone can contemplate it. Temple worship is therefore meant for persons who are not so advanced that they can meditate upon the form of the Lord. There is no difference between constantly visiting the temple and directly seeing the transcendental form of the Lord; they are of equal value. The advantageous position of the yogī is that he can sit anywhere in a solitary place and meditate upon the form of the Lord. A less advanced person, however, has to go to the temple, and as long as he does not go to the temple he is unable to see the form of the Lord. Either by hearing, seeing or meditating, the objective is the transcendental form of the Lord; there is no question of voidness or impersonalism. The Lord can bestow the blessings of transcendental pleasure upon either the visitor of the temple, the meditator- yogī or one who hears about the Lord’s transcendental form from scriptures like the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or Bhagavad-gītā. There are nine processes for executing devotional service, of which smaraṇam, or meditation, is one. Yogīs take advantage of the process of smaraṇam, whereas bhakti-yogīs take special advantage of the process of hearing and chanting.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
One should meditate on the Lord’s chest, the special residence of Mahā-lakṣmī, which bestows pleasure to the minds and eyes of men. One should meditate on neck of the Lord, respected by all the worlds, which is made beautiful by the Kaustubha jewel. One should meditate on the chest of the Lord whose left side is the special place of Mahālakṣmī. One should meditate on the neck, ornamented additionally (adhi) by the Kaustubha.
Devotion in this verse is not a feeling to wait for but a practice to take up. The heart catches up to the hands once we begin acting on the Lord's behalf instead of our own. Its centre of gravity is Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
  • What part of your day still belongs entirely to your own enjoyment, and could even a corner of it be offered?
  • Whom in your life would notice if your devotional service deepened, and what would they see?
📝 My note

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