Shloka 23

Kapila Describes Bhakti-Saturated Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga and Meditation on the Lord’s Form

Devanagari script

जानुद्वयं जलजलोचनया जनन्या लक्ष्म्याखिलस्य सुरवन्दितया विधातु: । ऊर्वोर्निधाय करपल्लवरोचिषा यत् संलालितं हृदि विभोरभवस्य कुर्यात् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

jānu-dvayaṁ jalaja-locanayā jananyā lakṣmyākhilasya sura-vanditayā vidhātuḥ ūrvor nidhāya kara-pallava-rociṣā yat saṁlālitaṁ hṛdi vibhor abhavasya kuryāt

Translation

যোগীর উচিত হৃদয়ে স্থির করা—জলজলোচন লক্ষ্মী, যিনি সকল দেবতার দ্বারা বন্দিতা এবং সৃষ্টিকর্তা ব্রহ্মার জননী, তিনি তাঁর করপল্লবের কোমল দীপ্তিতে প্রভুর উরু ও পিণ্ডলিতে হাত রেখে স্নেহভরে সেবা করেন।

Synonyms

• जानु-द्वयम्: the two knees
• जानु-द्वयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numerical compound); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘two knees’ (as a pair)

• जलज-लोचनया: by the lotus-eyed (goddess)
• जलज-लोचनया: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलज (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘lotus-eyed’ as epithet); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• जनन्या: by the mother
• जनन्या: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• लक्ष्म्या: by Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्म्या: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• अखिलस्य: of all; entire
• अखिलस्य: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; qualifying vidhātuḥ

• सुर-वन्दितया: by (her) worshipped by the gods
• सुर-वन्दितया: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + वन्दित (कृदन्त, √वन्द्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by (her) who is worshipped by the gods’

• विधातुः: of the creator
• विधातुः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; ‘of the creator (Brahmā)’

• ऊर्वोः: on the two thighs
• ऊर्वोः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (Gen/Loc), द्विवचन (Dual); here locative sense ‘on the thighs’

• निधाय: having placed
• निधाय: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + √धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having placed’

• कर-पल्लव-रोचिषा: with the radiance of (her) hands like tender shoots
• कर-पल्लव-रोचिषा: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + पल्लव (प्रातिपदिक) + रोचिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (रोचिस्), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘with the radiance/beauty of hands like tender shoots’

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun referring to ‘that (knee-pair)’

• संलालितम्: caressed
• संलालितम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + √लल्/√लाल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘caressed/fondled’

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद्/हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• विभोः: of the all-powerful Lord
• विभोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• अभवस्य: of the unborn
• अभवस्य: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; epithet of the Lord ‘unborn’

• कुर्यात्: should (meditate/visualize)
• कुर्यात्: विधेय-क्रिया (Vidhi-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should do/should place (in meditation)’

Purport

Brahmā is the appointed lord of the universe. Because his father is Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, is automatically his mother. Lakṣmījī is worshiped by all demigods and by the inhabitants of other planets as well. Human beings are also eager to receive favor from the goddess of fortune. Lakṣmī is always engaged in massaging the legs and thighs of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Nārāyaṇa, who is lying on the ocean of Garbha within the universe. Brahmā is described here as the son of the goddess of fortune, but actually he was not born of her womb. Brahmā takes his birth from the abdomen of the Lord Himself. A lotus flower grows from the abdomen of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, and Brahmā is born there. Therefore Lakṣmījī’s massaging of the thighs of the Lord should not be taken as the behavior of an ordinary wife. The Lord is transcendental to the behavior of the ordinary male and female. The word abhavasya is very significant, for it indicates that He could produce Brahmā without the assistance of the goddess of fortune.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi
• Brahma
• Shiva (Bhava)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about meditating on the Lord’s form in Canto 3?

In Canto 3, Chapter 28, Kapila teaches a step-by-step meditation on the Lord’s divine body; this verse instructs focusing the heart on the Lord’s knees, lovingly served by Lakṣmī, to steady devotion and concentration.

Why does Kapila mention Lakshmi, Brahma, and Shiva in this verse?

Kapila highlights the Lord’s supreme position: Lakṣmī personally serves Him, and even exalted beings like Brahmā and Śiva are connected to and honor His supremacy—strengthening the meditator’s reverence and faith.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam meditation teaching in modern life?

Set aside a short daily practice: calmly visualize the Lord’s form with devotion (starting from specific limbs as taught), remember His mercy and majesty, and let that remembrance replace anxiety with steadiness and gratitude.