Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.21.18
व्यञ्जिताशेषगात्रश्रीर्नियमे न्यस्तभूषण: ।
कृष्णाजिनधर: श्रीमान् कुशपाणि:कृतोचित: ॥ १८ ॥
vyañjitāśeṣa-gātra-śrīr
[vyanjitaashesha-gaatra-shreer]
niyame nyasta-bhūṣaṇaḥ
[niyame nyasta-bhooshanah]
kṛṣṇājina-dharaḥ śrīmān
[krishnaajina-dharah shreemaan]
kuśa-pāṇiḥ kṛtocitaḥ
[kusha-paanih kritochitah]
Word-for-word
vyañjita
—
indicating
aśeṣa
—
innumerable
gātra
—
bodily
śrīḥ
—
beauty
niyame
—
regulated
nyasta
—
given up
bhūṣaṇaḥ
—
garments
kṛṣṇa
—
black
ajina
—
skin
dharaḥ
—
putting on
śrīmān
—
beautiful
kuśa-pāṇiḥ
—
having kuśa grass on the fingers
kṛta
—
performed
ucitaḥ
—
as it is required.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vyañjitāśeṣa-gātra-śrīr
vyañjita
indicating
aśeṣa
innumerable
gātra
bodily
śrīḥ
beauty
niyame nyasta-bhūṣaṇaḥ
niyame
regulated
nyasta
given up
bhūṣaṇaḥ
garments
kṛṣṇājina-dharaḥ śrīmān
kṛṣṇa
black
ajina
skin
dharaḥ
putting on
śrīmān
beautiful
kuśa-pāṇiḥ kṛtocitaḥ
kuśa-pāṇiḥ
having kuśa grass on the fingers
kṛta
performed
ucitaḥ
as it is required.
As Mahārāja Pṛthu was being initiated to perform the sacrifice, he had to leave aside his valuable dress, and therefore his natural bodily beauty was visible. It was very pleasing to see him put on a black deerskin and wear a ring of kuśa grass on his finger, for this increased the natural beauty of his body. It appears that Mahārāja Pṛthu observed all the regulative principles before he performed the sacrifice.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Showing unlimited beauty in his limbs, wearing ornaments expertly placed, wearing a black deer skin and shining with kuśa on his finger when required, the ruler of the earth, who had charming pupils in his eyes as cooling as dew, glanced around. Giving joy to the assembly, he resonantly spoke attractive, delightful words which were ornamented with beautiful syllables, faultless, full of allusions, and which were easy to understand, for the benefit of all present.
Personal Guidance
For initiation he left his rich dress, put on black deerskin, kuśa ring; natural beauty became visible. Removing ornaments sometimes reveals what they were obscuring; ascetic phases expose the underlying form.
Reflection Questions
- Which ornament could I shed and reveal something already beautiful underneath?
- Where am I using decoration to hide what would actually shine?
My note
Source: vedabase.io