Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 44

The Kingdom of God (Vaikuṇṭha) and the Curse of Jaya and Vijaya

Devanagari script

ते वा अमुष्य वदनासितपद्मकोश- मुद्वीक्ष्य सुन्दरतराधरकुन्दहासम् । लब्धाशिष: पुनरवेक्ष्य तदीयमङ्‌घ्रि- द्वन्द्वं नखारुणमणिश्रयणं निदध्यु: ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

te vā amuṣya vadanāsita-padma-kośam udvīkṣya sundaratarādhara-kunda-hāsam labdhāśiṣaḥ punar avekṣya tadīyam aṅghri- dvandvaṁ nakhāruṇa-maṇi-śrayaṇaṁ nidadhyuḥ

Translation

The Lord’s beautiful face appeared to them like the inside of a blue lotus, and the Lord’s smile appeared to be a blossoming jasmine flower. After seeing the face of the Lord, the sages were fully satisfied, and when they wanted to see Him further, they looked upon the nails of His lotus feet, which resembled rubies. Thus they viewed the Lord’s transcendental body again and again, and so they finally achieved meditation on the Lord’s personal feature.

Synonyms

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• vā: indeed
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: indeed/or)

• amuṣya: of that (Lord)
• amuṣya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• vadana-asita-padma-kośam: his face, a dark lotus-bud
• vadana-asita-padma-kośam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadana + asita + padma + kośa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास (face like a dark lotus-bud), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• udvīkṣya: having gazed at
• udvīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ud-īkṣ (धातु) → udvīkṣya (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• sundaratara-adhara-kunda-hāsam: the smile like kunda blossoms on his very beautiful lips
• sundaratara-adhara-kunda-hāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sundaratara + adhara + kunda + hāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (smile like kunda-flowers on very beautiful lips), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• labdha-āśiṣaḥ: having received boons/blessings
• labdha-āśiṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labdha (√labh, कृदन्त) + āśis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘having obtained blessings’), भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; qualifying ‘te’

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: again)

• avekṣya: having looked at
• avekṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ava-īkṣ (धातु) → avekṣya (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• tadīyam: his/that one’s
• tadīyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tadīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying ‘aṅghri-dvandvam’

• aṅghri-dvandvam: the pair of feet
• aṅghri-dvandvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅghri + dvandva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (‘two feet’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• nakha-āruṇa-maṇi-śrayaṇam: resting on/gleaming with reddish gem-like nails
• nakha-āruṇa-maṇi-śrayaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nakha + āruṇa + maṇi + śrayaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘having the support/reflection of reddish gems (like nails)’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying ‘aṅghri-dvandvam’

• nidadhyuḥ: they fixed (their minds/eyes)
• nidadhyuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (नि+√धा)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Viṣṇu (Nārāyaṇa)
• The four Kumāras (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana, Sanat-kumāra)

FAQs

What are the qualities of devotees described in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 15?

This verse highlights devotees’ absorption in the Lord’s form—first beholding His face and smile, then fixing the mind on His lotus feet after receiving His blessings.

Why do the four Kumāras focus again on Lord Viṣṇu’s feet after seeing His face?

After receiving His benediction, their reverence deepens into meditation; the lotus feet are the refuge of devotees, so they re-center their consciousness there in humble devotion.

How can meditation on the Lord’s lotus feet be practiced in modern life?

By daily remembrance—chanting His names, reading verses like this, and mentally visualizing the Lord’s feet as one’s shelter—one steadies the mind and nurtures devotion.