Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 29

Viśvarūpa’s Death, Vṛtrāsura’s Manifestation, and the Devas’ Surrender to Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

आत्मतुल्यै: षोडशभिर्विना श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभौ । पर्युपासितमुन्निद्रशरदम्बुरुहेक्षणम् ॥ २९ ॥ द‍ृष्ट्वा तमवनौ सर्व ईक्षणाह्लादविक्लवा: । दण्डवत् पतिता राजञ्छनैरुत्थाय तुष्टुवु: ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

ātma-tulyaiḥ ṣoḍaśabhir vinā śrīvatsa-kaustubhau paryupāsitam unnidra- śarad-amburuhekṣaṇam

Translation

Surrounding and serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, were sixteen personal attendants, decorated with ornaments and appearing exactly like Him but without the mark of Śrīvatsa and the Kaustubha jewel. O King, when all the demigods saw the Supreme Lord in that posture, smiling with eyes like the petals of lotuses grown in autumn, they were overwhelmed with happiness and immediately fell down like rods, offering daṇḍavats. Then they slowly rose and pleased the Lord by offering Him prayers.

Synonyms

• ātma-tulyaiḥ: with those equal to himself
• ātma-tulyaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument—accompaniment/association)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman + tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: ātma-tulya = 'equal to oneself'

• ṣoḍaśabhiḥ: by/with sixteen
• ṣoḍaśabhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument—count specification)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣoḍaśan (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); numeral adjective

• vinā: without, except
• vinā: Nishedha/Sambandha (निषेध/Exclusion)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable preposition (उपसर्गार्थक-अव्यय) governing instrumental/accusative; here with instrumental

• śrīvatsa-kaustubhau: Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha (marks/jewel)
• śrīvatsa-kaustubhau: Karma (कर्म/Object—excluded items)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrīvatsa + kaustubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Dual (द्विवचन); द्वन्द्व: śrīvatsa and kaustubha

• paryupāsitam: worshipped/attended upon
• paryupāsitam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-upa-ās (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त, क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with ekṣaṇam

• unnidra-śarad-amburuha-īkṣaṇam: (him) whose eyes are like fully-bloomed autumn lotuses
• unnidra-śarad-amburuha-īkṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object—(him) with such eyes)
• Type: Noun
• Root: unnidra + śarad + amburuha + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'whose eyes are like fully-bloomed autumn lotuses'

Purport

In Vaikuṇṭhaloka the Supreme Personality of Godhead has four hands and decorations like the Śrīvatsa mark on His chest and the gem known as Kaustubha. These are special indications of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord’s personal attendants and other devotees in Vaikuṇṭha have the same features, except for the Śrīvatsa mark and the Kaustubha gem.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Viṣṇu (Hari)
• Sixteen attendants (parṣadas)

FAQs

What is the meaning of Śrīvatsa and the Kaustubha jewel in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse highlights that although the Lord may appear similar to His attendants, He is uniquely identified by the Śrīvatsa mark on His chest and the Kaustubha jewel—classic signs of Lord Viṣṇu’s supreme identity.

Why does the Bhagavatam describe Lord Viṣṇu’s eyes as autumn lotuses?

Autumn lotuses are fully blossomed, clear, and radiant; the comparison conveys the Lord’s serene beauty, purity, and ever-awake, compassionate gaze.

Practical application: How can a devotee meditate on the Lord’s form today?

By regularly contemplating the Lord’s distinctive features and qualities—such as His lotus eyes and divine markings—one can deepen remembrance (smaraṇa) and strengthen devotional focus.