Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 8

The Birth of Mahārāja Parīkṣit and Prophecies of His Greatness

Devanagari script

अङ्गुष्ठमात्रममलं स्फुरत्पुरटमौलिनम् । अपीव्यदर्शनं श्यामं तडिद्वाससमच्युतम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

aṅguṣṭha-mātram amalaṁ sphurat-puraṭa-maulinam apīvya-darśanaṁ śyāmaṁ taḍid vāsasam acyutam

Translation

He [the Lord] was only thumb high, but He was all transcendental. He had a very beautiful, blackish, infallible body, and He wore a dress of lightning yellow and a helmet of blazing gold. Thus He was seen by the child.

Synonyms

• अङ्गुष्ठमात्रम्: thumb-sized
• अङ्गुष्ठमात्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'अङ्गुष्ठस्य मात्रम्' = 'thumb-sized'

• अमलम्: spotless, pure
• अमलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्फुरत्पुरटमौलिनम्: with a crown of gleaming gold
• स्फुरत्पुरटमौलिनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फुरत् (कृदन्त/शतृ) + पुरट (प्रातिपदिक) + मौलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'स्फुरत् पुरटः मौलिः यस्य' (having a crown of shining gold)

• अपीव्यदर्शनम्: of beautiful appearance
• अपीव्यदर्शनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपीव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'अपीव्यं दर्शनं यस्य/अपीव्य-दर्शनम्' (having a charming appearance)

• श्यामम्: dark-blue, dusky
• श्यामम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तडिद्वाससम्: wearing lightning-like garments
• तडिद्वाससम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तडित् (प्रातिपदिक) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष: 'तडित्-इव वासः यस्य' (clad in lightning-like garments)

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (the infallible Lord)
• अच्युतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (देवनाम), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Sri Vishnu/Krishna)
• Maharaja Parikshit

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam describe about Lord Vishnu’s form in Canto 1 Chapter 12?

It describes the Lord as appearing in a thumb-sized, spotless, radiant form—dark-hued, exquisitely beautiful, crowned with shining gold, and dressed in lightning-bright garments.

Why did the Lord appear to Maharaja Parikshit in this verse?

In this chapter’s narrative, the Lord manifests to protect Parikshit (while still in the womb) from the brahmastra’s deadly heat, revealing His personal guardianship over His devotee.

Practical application: how can this shloka inspire devotion in modern life?

It teaches remembrance of the Lord’s personal protection—strengthening faith during fear or uncertainty and encouraging steady bhakti through hearing and contemplating His divine form and qualities.