FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.8.27

मुखेन लोकार्तिहरस्मितेन परिस्फुरत्कुण्डलमण्डितेन । शोणायितेनाधरबिम्बभासा प्रत्यर्हयन्तं सुनसेन सुभ्र्वा ॥ २७ ॥
mukhena lokārti-hara-smitena
[mukhena lokaarti-hara-smitena]
parisphurat-kuṇḍala-maṇḍitena
[parisphurat-kundala-manditena]
śoṇāyitenādhara-bimba-bhāsā
[shonaayitenaadhara-bimba-bhaasaa]
pratyarhayantaṁ sunasena subhrvā
[pratyarhayantam sunasena subhrvaa]
Word-for-word
mukhena — by a gesture of the face loka-ārti-hara — vanquisher of the distress of the devotees smitena — by smiling parisphurat — dazzling kuṇḍala — earrings maṇḍitena — decorated with śoṇāyitena — acknowledging adhara — of His lips bimba — reflection bhāsā — rays pratyarhayantam — reciprocating su-nasena — by His pleasing nose su-bhrvā — and pleasing eyebrows.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mukhena lokārti-hara-smitena
mukhena
by a gesture of the face
loka-ārti-hara
vanquisher of the distress of the devotees
smitena
by smiling
parisphurat-kuṇḍala-maṇḍitena
parisphurat
dazzling
kuṇḍala
earrings
maṇḍitena
decorated with
śoṇāyitenādhara-bimba-bhāsā
śoṇāyitena
acknowledging
adhara
of His lips
bimba
reflection
bhāsā
rays
pratyarhayantaṁ sunasena subhrvā
pratyarhayantam
reciprocating
su-nasena
by His pleasing nose
su-bhrvā
and pleasing eyebrows.
He also acknowledged the service of the devotees and vanquished their distress by His beautiful smile. The reflection of His face, decorated with earrings, was so pleasing because it dazzled with the rays from His lips and the beauty of His nose and eyebrows.
Purport

Devotional service to the Lord is very much obliging to Him. There are many transcendentalists in different fields of spiritual activities, but devotional service to the Lord is unique. Devotees do not ask anything from the Lord in exchange for their service. Even the most desirable liberation is refused by devotees, although offered by the Lord. Thus the Lord becomes a kind of debtor to the devotees, and He can only try to repay the devotees’ service with His ever-enchanting smile. The devotees are ever satisfied by the smiling face of the Lord, and they become enlivened. And by seeing the devotees so enlivened, the Lord Himself is further satisfied. So there is continuous transcendental competition between the Lord and His devotees by such reciprocation of service and acknowledgement.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The Lord respected his servants by a face slightly smiling to destroy the devotees’ suffering due to separation, ornamented with bright earrings, red lips, graceful nose and with movement of one attractive eyebrow. The Lord returns the devotees’ worship by worshipping them (pratyarhayantam) through showing his beautiful face. He repays the debt of the devotees’ service by this, since the devotees do not accept material gifts or liberation. His smile destroys the suffering of the devotees and also the suffering out of longing to see him. He shows one beautiful eyebrow (subhruvā). This indicates a confidential emotion of Kṛṣṇa. Those who receive such worship by the Lord are actually special devotees.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Real devotion is steady, not theatrical. The verse treats bhakti as the work the soul was made for — every other career is a temporary detour from this primary employment. The verse anchors this in devotional service to the Lord.
Reflection Questions
  • What part of your day still belongs entirely to your own enjoyment, and could even a corner of it be offered?
  • Where in your life are you still 'enjoying' the fruits of work you call devotional?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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