FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.30.6

काशिष्णुना कनकवर्णविभूषणेन भ्राजत्कपोलवदनो विलसत्किरीट: । अष्टायुधैरनुचरैर्मुनिभि: सुरेन्द्रै- रासेवितो गरुडकिन्नरगीतकीर्ति: ॥ ६ ॥
kāśiṣṇunā kanaka-varṇa-vibhūṣaṇena
[kaashishnunaa kanaka-varna-vibhooshanena]
bhrājat-kapola-vadano vilasat-kirīṭaḥ
[bhraajat-kapola-vadano vilasat-kireetah]
aṣṭāyudhair anucarair munibhiḥ surendrair
[ashtaayudhair anucharair munibhih surendrair]
āsevito garuḍa-kinnara-gīta-kīrtiḥ
[aasevito garuda-kinnara-geeta-keertih]
kāśiṣṇunā — shining kanaka — gold varṇa — colored vibhūṣaṇena — with ornaments bhrājat — shining kapola — forehead vadanaḥ — His face vilasat — dazzling kirīṭaḥ — His helmet aṣṭa — eight āyudhaiḥ — with weapons anucaraiḥ — by followers munibhiḥ — by great sages sura-indraiḥ — by demigods āsevitaḥ — served garuḍa — by Garuḍa kinnara — inhabitant of the Kinnara planet gīta — sung kīrtiḥ — His glories.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kāśiṣṇunā kanaka-varṇa-vibhūṣaṇena
kāśiṣṇunā
shining
kanaka
gold
varṇa
colored
vibhūṣaṇena
with ornaments
bhrājat-kapola-vadano vilasat-kirīṭaḥ
bhrājat
shining
kapola
forehead
vadanaḥ
His face
vilasat
dazzling
kirīṭaḥ
His helmet
aṣṭāyudhair anucarair munibhiḥ surendrair
aṣṭa
eight
āyudhaiḥ
with weapons
anucaraiḥ
by followers
munibhiḥ
by great sages
sura-indraiḥ
by demigods
āsevito garuḍa-kinnara-gīta-kīrtiḥ
āsevitaḥ
served
garuḍa
by Garuḍa
kinnara
inhabitant of the Kinnara planet
gīta
sung
kīrtiḥ
His glories.
The Lord’s face was very beautiful, and His head was decorated with a shining helmet and golden ornaments. The helmet was dazzling and was very beautifully situated on His head. The Lord had eight arms, which each held a particular weapon. The Lord was surrounded by demigods, great sages and other associates. These were all engaged in His service. Garuḍa, the carrier of the Lord, glorified the Lord with Vedic hymns by flapping his wings. Garuḍa appeared to be an inhabitant of the planet known as Kinnaraloka.

Generally the Viṣṇu form is manifested with four hands holding four objects — a conchshell, disc, club and lotus flower. However, here Lord Viṣṇu is described as possessing eight arms with eight kinds of weapons. According to Vīrarāghava Ācārya, the conchshell and lotus flower are also accepted as weapons. Since the Lord is the supreme controller, whatever is in His hand can be considered a weapon. Four hands hold four kinds of weapons, and the extra four hands hold an arrow, bow, trident and snake. Śrī Vīrarāghava Ācārya describes the eight weapons as śaṅkha, cakra, gadā, padma, śārṅga, śara, etc.

A king is always accompanied by his ministers, secretaries and commanders, and Lord Viṣṇu is also accompanied by His followers — the demigods, great sages, saintly persons and so on. He is never alone. Consequently there is no question of the Lord’s being impersonal. He is always Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His associates are also persons. From the description given in this verse, Garuḍa appears to belong to the Kinnara planet. The inhabitants of the Kinnara planet have the same features as Garuḍa. Their bodily features are like those of a human being, but they have wings. The word gīta-kīrtiḥ indicates that the inhabitants of Kinnaraloka are very expert in singing the glories of the Lord. In Brahma-saṁhitā it is said, jagad-aṇḍa-koṭi-koṭiṣv aśeṣa-vasudhādi-vibhūti-bhinnam: in each and every universe there are different types of planets, and each planet has distinctive features. On the strength of this verse, we can understand that in Kinnaraloka the inhabitants can fly with their wings. There is also a planet, known as Siddhaloka, where the inhabitants can fly even without wings. Thus each and every planet has some distinctive facility. That is the beauty of the varied creation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
His cheeks shone because of his bright gold earrings with colorful gems. On his head was a brilliant crown. He was served by eight weapons, servants, sages, and devatās. Garuḍa and Kinnaras sang his glories. His cheeks shone because of the earrings of gold studded with various colorful jewels.
Beautiful face, shining helmet, eight arms each holding a weapon, surrounded by demigods, sages, devotees. Even the divine retinue is specific; a crowd, not a singleton.
Reflection Questions
  • Which member of His retinue am I most drawn to, and why?
  • Where do I imagine the Lord alone when scripture surrounds Him with company?
📝 My note

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