Shloka 45
Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)
स्निग्धप्रावृड्घनश्यामं सर्वसौन्दर्यसङ्ग्रहम् । चार्वायतचतुर्बाहु सुजातरुचिराननम् ॥ ४५ ॥ पद्मकोशपलाशाक्षं सुन्दरभ्रु सुनासिकम् । सुद्विजं सुकपोलास्यं समकर्णविभूषणम् ॥ ४६ ॥
snigdha-prāvṛḍ-ghana-śyāmaṁ sarva-saundarya-saṅgraham cārv-āyata-catur-bāhu sujāta-rucirānanam
جمال الربّ كغمامٍ داكنٍ لامعٍ في موسم المطر؛ فهو خلاصة كلّ جمال. له أربع أذرع ووجه بديع؛ عينان كبتلات اللوتس، وحاجبان جميلان، وأنف شامخ. أسنان متلألئة، وخدّان فاتنان، وأذنان مزينتان على السواء.
After the scorching heat of the summer season, it is very pleasing to see dark clouds in the sky. As confirmed in Brahma-saṁhitā, barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgam: the Lord wears a peacock feather in His hair, and His bodily complexion is just like a blackish cloud. The word sundara, or snigdha, means “very pleasing.” Kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya: Kṛṣṇa’s beauty is so pleasing that not even millions upon millions of Cupids can compare to it. The Lord’s form as Viṣṇu is decorated in all opulence; therefore Lord Śiva is trying to see that most opulent form of Nārāyaṇa, or Viṣṇu. Generally the worship of the Lord begins with the worship of Nārāyaṇa, or Viṣṇu, whereas the worship of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā is most confidential. Lord Nārāyaṇa is worshipable by the pāñcarātrika-vidhi, or regulative principles, whereas Lord Kṛṣṇa is worshipable by the bhāgavata-vidhi. No one can worship the Lord in the bhāgavata-vidhi without going through the regulations of the pāñcarātrika-vidhi. Actually, neophyte devotees worship the Lord according to the pāñcarātrika-vidhi, or the regulative principles enjoined in the Nārada-pañcarātra. Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa cannot be approached by the neophyte devotees; therefore temple worship according to regulative principles is offered to Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa. Although there may be a Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa vigraha, or form, the worship of the neophyte devotees is acceptable as Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa worship. Worship according to the pāñcarātrika-vidhi is called vidhi-mārga, and worship according to the bhāgavata-vidhi principles is called rāga-mārga. The principles of rāga-mārga are especially meant for devotees who are elevated to the Vṛndāvana platform.
FAQs
In this verse, the Lord is described as dark like a monsoon rain cloud, the complete reservoir of beauty, with four arms, broad shoulders, and a radiant, well-proportioned face—an object of devotional meditation.
Śukadeva narrates the Pracetās’ direct vision of the Lord to show how sincere devotion culminates in darśana and to guide Parīkṣit toward remembrance of the Lord’s beautiful form at life’s end.
Use the verse as a meditation prompt: regularly contemplate the Lord’s compassionate, beautiful form (especially His four-armed Viṣṇu form) to steady the mind, deepen bhakti, and reduce anxiety and distraction.