Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 41

The Kingdom of God (Vaikuṇṭha) and the Curse of Jaya and Vijaya

Devanagari script

विद्युत्क्षिपन्मकरकुण्डलमण्डनार्ह- गण्डस्थलोन्नसमुखं मणिमत्किरीटम् । दोर्दण्डषण्डविवरे हरता परार्ध्य- हारेण कन्धरगतेन च कौस्तुभेन ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

vidyut-kṣipan-makara-kuṇḍala-maṇḍanārha- gaṇḍa-sthalonnasa-mukhaṁ maṇimat-kirīṭam dor-daṇḍa-ṣaṇḍa-vivare haratā parārdhya- hāreṇa kandhara-gatena ca kaustubhena

Translation

Sein Antlitz war geprägt von Wangen, die die Schönheit Seiner makara-förmigen Ohrringe hervorhoben, glänzender als der Blitz. Seine Nase war markant, und Sein Haupt trug eine mit Edelsteinen besetzte Krone. Zwischen Seinen kräftigen Armen hing eine kostbarste Halskette, und Sein Hals war mit dem Kaustubha-Juwel geschmückt.

Synonyms

• विद्युत्-क्षिपत्-मकर-कुण्डल-मण्डन-अर्ह-गण्ड-स्थल-उन्नस-मुखम्: whose face and cheeks are adorned with flashing makara-earrings
• विद्युत्-क्षिपत्-मकर-कुण्डल-मण्डन-अर्ह-गण्ड-स्थल-उन्नस-मुखम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत् + क्षिपत्(√क्षिप्) + मकर + कुण्डल + मण्डन + अर्ह + गण्ड + स्थल + उन्नस + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-समूह: (विद्युदिव) क्षिपत् (flashing) मकरकुण्डलमण्डनार्हे गण्डस्थले यस्य, उन्नसं मुखं यस्य—describing the Lord; तम् इति विशेषण

• मणिमत्-किरीटम्: a jeweled crown
• मणिमत्-किरीटम्: कर्म (Karma/Object—descriptive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणिमत् + किरीट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: मणिमत् किरीटम् (jeweled crown)

• दोः-दण्ड-षण्ड-विवरे: in the space between his arms
• दोः-दण्ड-षण्ड-विवरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोः + दण्ड + षण्ड + विवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: दोर्दण्डषण्डस्य विवरः (the space between the clusters of arms)

• हरता: captivating
• हरता: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘stealing/captivating’—qualifying हारेण/कौस्तुभेन (by which it captivates)

• परार्ध्य-हारेण: with a priceless necklace
• परार्ध्य-हारेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परार्ध्य + हार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: परार्ध्यः हारः (most precious necklace)

• कन्धर-गतेन: resting on the neck
• कन्धर-गतेन: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कन्धर + गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कन्धरे गतः (resting on the neck); हारेण इति विशेषण

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कौस्तुभेन: with the Kaustubha gem
• कौस्तुभेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौस्तुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण: ‘with the Kaustubha gem’

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Kaustubha jewel?

This verse highlights the Kaustubha as a distinctive jewel resting on the Lord’s neck, emphasizing His supreme, captivating beauty and divine identity.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Lord Viṣṇu’s ornaments in such detail in Canto 3?

In the Vaikuṇṭha narration, the detailed description fixes the listener’s mind on the Lord’s transcendental form, strengthening devotion through remembrance and contemplation.

How can devotees apply this verse in modern life?

Use the verse as a meditation prompt—regularly contemplate the Lord’s form and qualities to steady the mind, reduce distraction, and deepen bhakti through smaraṇa (remembrance).