Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 47

Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)

Devanagari script

प्रीतिप्रहसितापाङ्गमलकै रूपशोभितम् । लसत्पङ्कजकिञ्जल्कदुकूलं मृष्टकुण्डलम् ॥ ४७ ॥ स्फुरत्किरीटवलयहारनूपुरमेखलम् । शङ्खचक्रगदापद्ममालामण्युत्तमर्द्धिमत् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

prīti-prahasitāpāṅgam alakai rūpa-śobhitam lasat-paṅkaja-kiñjalka- dukūlaṁ mṛṣṭa-kuṇḍalam

Translation

Der Herr ist überaus schön durch Sein offenes, barmherziges Lächeln und den Seitenblick, den Er Seinen Geweihten schenkt. Sein schwarzes Haar ist gelockt, und Sein gelbes Gewand, im Wind wehend, gleicht dem saffranfarbenen Blütenstaub der Lotosblumen. Glitzernde Ohrringe, strahlender Helm, Armreifen, Halsketten, Fußglöckchen, Gürtel sowie Muschel, Diskus, Keule und Lotos und Edelsteingirlanden erhöhen den natürlichen Glanz des Kaustubha-Juwels auf Seiner Brust.

Synonyms

• प्रीति-प्रहसित-अपाङ्गम्: with an affectionate smiling sidelong glance
• प्रीति-प्रहसित-अपाङ्गम्: कर्म (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहसित (कृदन्त; प्र + √हस् (धातु) क्त) + अपाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘प्रीत्या प्रहसितः अपाङ्गः’ (side-glance smiling with affection)

• अलकैः: with (hair) curls
• अलकैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण—‘with curls/locks’

• रूप-शोभितम्: adorned with beauty
• रूप-शोभितम्: कर्म (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + शोभित (कृदन्त; √शुभ्/√शोभ् (धातु) क्त, ‘adorned/beautified’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘रूपेण शोभितम्’ (beautified by form/beauty)

• लसत्-पङ्कज-किञ्जल्क-दुकूलम्: wearing a shining garment like lotus filaments
• लसत्-पङ्कज-किञ्जल्क-दुकूलम्: कर्म (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लसत् (कृदन्त; √लस् (धातु) शतृ, ‘shining’) + पङ्कज (प्रातिपदिक) + किञ्जल्क (प्रातिपदिक) + दुकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘पङ्कजकिञ्जल्कवत् लसत् दुकूलम्’ (a shining garment like lotus-filaments)

• मृष्ट-कुण्डलम्: with polished earrings
• मृष्ट-कुण्डलम्: कर्म (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृष्ट (कृदन्त; √मृज् (धातु) क्त, ‘polished/clean’) + कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘मृष्टे कुण्डले यस्य’ (with polished earrings)

Purport

The word prahasitāpāṅga, referring to Kṛṣṇa’s smile and sidelong glances at His devotees, specifically applies to His dealings with the gopīs. Kṛṣṇa is always in a joking mood when He increases the feelings of conjugal rasa in the hearts of the gopīs. The conchshell, club, disc and lotus flower can be either held in His hands or seen on the palms of His hands. According to palmistry, the signs of a conchshell, club, lotus flower and disc mark the palms of great personalities and especially indicate the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Viṣṇu (Nārāyaṇa)
• Lord Śiva (Rudra)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam describe about Lord Vishnu’s beauty in Canto 4 Chapter 24?

It depicts Viṣṇu’s pleasing, smiling sidelong glances and His radiant lotus-colored garment and earrings, emphasizing His captivating, devotional form.

Why is Lord Vishnu being described in the Rudra-gita section of Bhagavatam?

In this chapter, Lord Śiva offers prayers and glorification, and Śukadeva narrates Viṣṇu’s divine appearance to highlight the supreme object of Śiva’s devotion.

Practical application: how can a devotee meditate on God through this verse?

By contemplating Viṣṇu’s gentle, benevolent glance and serene beauty, one can steady the mind in affectionate devotion rather than fear or abstraction.