Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 47

Akrūra’s Mission: The Departure from Vraja and the Yamunā Vision of Viṣṇu-Ananta

Devanagari script

तस्योत्सङ्गे घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् । पुरुषं चतुर्भुजं शान्तं पद्मपत्रारुणेक्षणम् ॥ ४६ ॥ चारुप्रसन्नवदनं चारुहासनिरीक्षणम् । सुभ्रून्नसं चारुकर्णं सुकपोलारुणाधरम् ॥ ४७ ॥ प्रलम्बपीवरभुजं तुङ्गांसोर:स्थलश्रियम् । कम्बुकण्ठं निम्ननाभिं वलिमत्पल्लवोदरम् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

tasyotsaṅge ghana-śyāmaṁ pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam puruṣaṁ catur-bhujaṁ śāntam padma-patrāruṇekṣaṇam

Translation

Akrūra then saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead lying peacefully on the lap of Lord Ananta Śeṣa. The complexion of that Supreme Person was like a dark-blue cloud. He wore yellow garments and had four arms and reddish lotus-petal eyes. His face looked attractive and cheerful with its smiling, endearing glance and lovely eyebrows, its raised nose and finely formed ears, and its beautiful cheeks and reddish lips. The Lord’s broad shoulders and expansive chest were beautiful, and His arms long and stout. His neck resembled a conchshell, His navel was deep, and His abdomen bore lines like those on a banyan leaf.

Synonyms

• चारु-प्रसन्न-वदनम्: with a beautiful, cheerful face
• चारु-प्रसन्न-वदनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसन्न (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √सद्/√सन्) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) पुरुषम् (पूर्वश्लोकात् अनुवर्तते)

• चारु-हास-निरीक्षणम्: with a lovely smiling glance
• चारु-हास-निरीक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + हास (प्रातिपदिक) + निरीक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासार्थः—चारुः हासः यस्य निरीक्षणम्/दृष्टिः (having a lovely smiling glance)

• सु-भ्रू-उन्नसम्: with beautiful brows and a prominent nose
• सु-भ्रू-उन्नसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्नस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासार्थः—सुन्दर-भ्रूः (good eyebrows) तथा उन्नतः नासिका (prominent nose) इति गुणसमाहारः

• चारु-कर्णम्: beautiful-eared
• चारु-कर्णम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (having beautiful ears)

• सु-कपोल-अरुण-अधरम्: with lovely cheeks and reddish lips
• सु-कपोल-अरुण-अधरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + कपोल (प्रातिपदिक) + अरुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासार्थः—सुन्दरौ कपोलौ, अरुणः अधरः यस्य (with lovely cheeks and reddish lips)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Akrūra

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.39 say about the form of the Supreme Lord?

It describes the Lord as cloud-dark, dressed in yellow silk, serene and lotus-eyed, appearing in a four-armed (Viṣṇu) form with exquisitely beautiful features—signifying His supreme divinity revealed to a devotee.

Why does Akrura see a four-armed form of Krishna in Canto 10 Chapter 39?

Because Akrura is a devoted servant, the Lord reveals His supreme Viṣṇu aspect to him during this sacred encounter, confirming Krishna’s identity as the Supreme Person beyond His humanlike līlā.

How can a modern devotee apply the teaching of this verse in daily life?

By cultivating sincere bhakti—humility, remembrance, and reverence—one’s perception becomes purified, and the heart begins to “see” the Lord’s presence through devotion rather than mere external vision.