Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 7
The Pracetās Meet Lord Viṣṇu—Benedictions, Pure Prayer, and the Birth of Dakṣa
पीनायताष्टभुजमण्डलमध्यलक्ष्म्या स्पर्धच्छ्रिया परिवृतो वनमालयाद्य: । बर्हिष्मत: पुरुष आह सुतान् प्रपन्नान् पर्जन्यनादरुतया सघृणावलोक: ॥ ७ ॥
pīnāyatāṣṭa-bhuja-maṇḍala-madhya-lakṣmyā spardhac-chriyā parivṛto vana-mālayādyaḥ barhiṣmataḥ puruṣa āha sutān prapannān parjanya-nāda-rutayā saghṛṇāvalokaḥ
Um den Hals des Bhagavān hing eine Waldblumengirlande, die bis zu den Knien reichte; sie schmückte Seine kräftigen, langen acht Arme, als wetteifere sie mit der Schönheit der Göttin Lakṣmī. Mit barmherzigem Blick und einer Stimme wie Donner wandte sich der Herr an die Ihm ergebenen Söhne König Prācīnabarhiṣat.
The word ādyaḥ in this verse is very significant. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the origin even of Paramātmā and Brahman. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.27) , brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāham: the Absolute Truth begins not with the impersonal Brahman but with the original Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. When Arjuna realized Kṛṣṇa’s greatness, he addressed Him in this way:
FAQs
This verse depicts the Supreme Person with an expansive, eight-armed form, adorned with a forest garland and divine splendor, and emphasizes His compassionate glance toward surrendered devotees.
The thundercloud-like resonance conveys divine majesty and authority, while the context shows He is simultaneously tender—addressing the Pracetas who have taken full shelter of Him.
Approach spiritual practice with wholehearted refuge—humility, steadiness, and trust—because the Bhagavatam repeatedly links sincere surrender with receiving the Lord’s guidance and mercy.