Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 22

The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed (Brāhmaṇa-patnī-prasāda) — Ritualism Humbled by Bhakti

Devanagari script

श्यामं हिरण्यपरिधिं वनमाल्यबर्ह- धातुप्रवालनटवेषमनुव्रतांसे । विन्यस्तहस्तमितरेण धुनानमब्जं कर्णोत्पलालककपोलमुखाब्जहासम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

śyāmaṁ hiraṇya-paridhiṁ vanamālya-barha- dhātu-pravāla-naṭa-veṣam anavratāṁse vinyasta-hastam itareṇa dhunānam abjaṁ karṇotpalālaka-kapola-mukhābja-hāsam

Translation

His complexion was dark blue and His garment golden. Wearing a peacock feather, colored minerals, sprigs of flower buds, and a garland of forest flowers and leaves, He was dressed just like a dramatic dancer. He rested one hand upon the shoulder of a friend and with the other twirled a lotus. Lilies graced His ears, His hair hung down over His cheeks, and His lotuslike face was smiling.

Synonyms

• श्यामम्: dark-complexioned
• श्यामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• हिरण्य-परिधिम्: wearing a golden garment/belt
• हिरण्य-परिधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य + परिधि (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (हिरण्यस्य परिधिः/परिधानम्); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• वन-माल्य-बर्ह-धातु-प्रवाल-नट-वेषम्: in an actor-like costume with forest garlands, peacock-feather, mineral pigments, and coral
• वन-माल्य-बर्ह-धातु-प्रवाल-नट-वेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन + माल्य + बर्ह + धातु + प्रवाल + नट + वेष (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (वनमाल्यं बर्हं धातुः प्रवालं च नटस्य वेषः इव यस्य/यत्); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• अनुव्रत-अंसे: on the shoulder (with a devoted companion)
• अनुव्रत-अंसे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुव्रत + अंस (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अनुव्रतस्य अंसः/अंसौ); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Locative, Singular)

• विन्यस्त-हस्तम्: with one hand placed (resting)
• विन्यस्त-हस्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-नि-स्था/स्थाप् (धातु-अर्थ) + क्त (कृदन्त) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: क्तान्त-कृदन्त + तत्पुरुष (विन्यस्तः हस्तः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• इतरेण: with the other (hand)
• इतरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक-प्रयोगे तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Instrumental, Singular)

• धुनानम्: shaking / waving
• धुनानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धु (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले परस्मैपदी शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• अब्जम्: a lotus
• अब्जम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• कर्ण-उत्पल-आलक-कपोल-मुख-अब्ज-हासम्: whose smile (and face) were lotus-like, with ear-lotuses, curls, and cheeks
• कर्ण-उत्पल-आलक-कपोल-मुख-अब्ज-हासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्ण + उत्पल + आलक + कपोल + मुख + अब्ज + हास (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (कर्णयोः उत्पले, आलकाः, कपोलाः, मुखं च अब्जवत्, हासः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

How is Krishna’s form described in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.23?

This verse portrays Kṛṣṇa as dark-hued and exquisitely ornamented—wearing golden adornments, forest garlands, a peacock feather, lotus earrings, and smiling with a lotus-like face while gently twirling a lotus.

Who is speaking this description of Krishna in Canto 10 Chapter 23?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this verse to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while describing the episode involving the brāhmaṇas and their devoted wives.

How can I apply this verse in daily bhakti practice?

Use the verse for rūpa-dhyāna (devotional meditation): contemplate Kṛṣṇa’s gentle smile, ornaments, and lotus-bearing hand to steady the mind and deepen loving remembrance during japa or prayer.