FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.8.45

प्रसादाभिमुखं शश्वत्प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणम् । सुनासं सुभ्रुवं चारुकपोलं सुरसुन्दरम् ॥ ४५ ॥
prasādābhimukhaṁ śaśvat
[prasaadaabhimukham shashvat]
prasanna-vadanekṣaṇam
[prasanna-vadanekshanam]
sunāsaṁ subhruvaṁ cāru-
[sunaasam subhruvam chaaru-]
kapolaṁ sura-sundaram
[kapolam sura-sundaram]
prasāda-abhimukham — always prepared to offer causeless mercy śaśvat — always prasanna — pleasing vadana — mouth īkṣaṇam — vision su-nāsam — very nicely constructed nose su-bhruvam — very nicely decorated eyebrows cāru — beautiful kapolam — forehead sura — the demigods sundaram — good looking.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
prasādābhimukhaṁ śaśvat
prasāda-abhimukham
always prepared to offer causeless mercy
śaśvat
always
prasanna-vadanekṣaṇam
prasanna
pleasing
vadana
mouth
īkṣaṇam
vision
sunāsaṁ subhruvaṁ cāru-
su-nāsam
very nicely constructed nose
su-bhruvam
very nicely decorated eyebrows
cāru
beautiful
kapolaṁ sura-sundaram
kapolam
forehead
sura
the demigods
sundaram
good looking.
[The form of the Lord is described herein.] The Lord’s face is perpetually very beautiful and pleasing in attitude. To the devotees who see Him, He appears never to be displeased, and He is always prepared to award benedictions to them. His eyes, His nicely decorated eyebrows, His raised nose and His broad forehead are all very beautiful. He is more beautiful than all the demigods.

This verse clearly explains how one has to meditate on the form of the Lord. Impersonal meditation is a bogus invention of modern days. In none of the Vedic literatures is impersonal meditation recommended. In Bhagavad-gītā, when meditation is recommended, the word mat-paraḥ, which means “pertaining to Me,” is used. Any Viṣṇu form pertains to Lord Kṛṣṇa because Lord Kṛṣṇa is the original Viṣṇu form. Sometimes someone tries to meditate upon the impersonal Brahman, which is described in Bhagavad-gītā as avyakta, meaning “unmanifested” or “impersonal.” But it is remarked by the Lord Himself that those who are attached to this impersonal feature of the Lord suffer a very troublesome task because no one can concentrate on the impersonal feature. One has to concentrate on the form of the Lord, which is described here in connection with Dhruva Mahārāja’s meditation. As will be apparent from later descriptions, Dhruva Mahārāja perfected this kind of meditation, and his yoga was successful.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
That Lord is always inclined to give mercy. He has a joyful face and glance, with graceful nose and eyebrows, beautiful forehead, and is more beautiful than the devatās. Sura-sundaram means “more beautiful than the devatās.”
Nārada describes the Lord's face: beautiful, never displeased, ready to bless, with broad brow, raised nose, decorated eyebrows. Meditation has a definite object; you're not staring at empty space but contemplating a real face.
Reflection Questions
  • Have I been trying to meditate impersonally and finding nothing to land on?
  • What would my practice feel like if I held a clear image of the Lord's face throughout it?
📝 My note

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