Shloka 88
The Sin of Breaking Households: Citrā’s Past Karma and the Remedy of Hari’s Name and Meditation
कंबुग्रीवं वृत्तमास्यं पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणम् । राजमानं हृषीकेशं दशनै रत्नसन्निभैः
kaṃbugrīvaṃ vṛttamāsyaṃ padmapatranibhekṣaṇam | rājamānaṃ hṛṣīkeśaṃ daśanai ratnasannibhaiḥ
له عنقٌ كالمحارة، ووجهٌ مستدير، وعينان كبتلات اللوتس؛ وكان هريشيكيشا يتلألأ، وأسنانُه كالجواهر النفيسة.
Narrator (contextual description within the Adhyaya; specific dialogue-speaker not explicit in this single verse)
Concept: Contemplation of the Lord’s auspicious marks (lakṣaṇa) steadies the senses and refines perception toward the divine.
Application: Use sensory discipline: when senses scatter, remember ‘Hṛṣīkeśa’—offer sight, speech, and attention to a single sacred image or name.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A close, devotional portrait: Viṣṇu’s neck curves like a conch, his face softly rounded, and his lotus-petal eyes gaze with unblinking compassion. When he smiles, gemlike teeth catch the light, turning the entire scene into a quiet revelation.","primary_figures":["Viṣṇu (Hṛṣīkeśa)"],"setting":"Intimate temple interior with a dark stone backdrop; a single oil lamp and incense smoke frame the face like a living halo.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["midnight blue","warm amber","pearl white","rose gold","charcoal black"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Bust-length Viṣṇu portrait emphasizing conch-like neck and lotus eyes, thick gold-leaf halo, ornate crown edge visible, lamp-lit glow rendered with rich reds and greens, embossed jewelry and gemlike teeth highlights.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Delicate facial features, soft shading around lotus eyes, subtle smile with tiny jewel-like teeth, minimal background with incense curls, refined linework and gentle devotional intimacy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Iconic face with large lotus eyes, bold outlines, stylized conch-neck motif, warm red/yellow/green accents, decorative lamp and floral border, temple-wall aesthetic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Central medallion portrait of Hṛṣīkeśa surrounded by lotus petals and conch motifs, intricate border patterns, deep blue ground with gold detailing, symmetrical devotional textile composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["single bell strike","incense crackle","soft tanpura","quiet congregation murmur fading to silence","distant conch"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वृत्तमास्यं → वृत्तम् + आस्यम्; पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणम् is a compound; दशनै रत्नसन्निभैः → दशनैः + रत्नसन्निभैः (visarga restored).
FAQs
Such epithets are part of Purāṇic iconography: lotus-like eyes suggest purity and compassion, while a conch-like neck evokes auspiciousness associated with Viṣṇu’s śaṅkha (conch) symbolism.
Hṛṣīkeśa means “lord of the senses,” indicating Viṣṇu as the inner ruler who governs and harmonizes the faculties of perception and action.
The verse models contemplative devotion through vivid divine imagery—encouraging the devotee to remember Viṣṇu’s auspicious form (rūpa-smaraṇa) as a support for bhakti.