Shloka 42

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विष्णु: सर्वोपायविदीश्वर: । योषिद्रूपमनिर्देश्यं दधार परमाद्भ‍ुतम् ॥ ४१ ॥ प्रेक्षणीयोत्पलश्यामं सर्वावयवसुन्दरम् । समानकर्णाभरणं सुकपोलोन्नसाननम् ॥ ४२ ॥ नवयौवननिर्वृत्तस्तनभारकृशोदरम् । मुखामोदानुरक्तालिझङ्कारोद्विग्नलोचनम् ॥ ४३ ॥ बिभ्रत् सुकेशभारेण मालामुत्फुल्ल‍मल्ल‍िकाम् । सुग्रीवकण्ठाभरणं सुभुजाङ्गदभूषितम् ॥ ४४ ॥ विरजाम्बरसंवीतनितम्बद्वीपशोभया । काञ्‍च्या प्रविलसद्वल्गुचलच्चरणनूपुरम् ॥ ४५ ॥ सव्रीडस्मितविक्षिप्तभ्रूविलासावलोकनै: । दैत्ययूथपचेत:सु काममुद्दीपयन् मुहु: ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

etasminn antare viṣṇuḥ sarvopāya-vid īśvaraḥ yoṣid-rūpam anirdeśyaṁ dadhāra-paramādbhutam

Translation

Her youthful fullness of breast made her waist appear exceedingly slender. Drawn by the fragrance of her face and body, bumblebees hummed about her, and thus her eyes became restlessly moving.

Synonyms

• prekṣaṇīya-utpala-śyāmam: beautiful to behold, dark like a blue lotus
• prekṣaṇīya-utpala-śyāmam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prekṣaṇīya (प्रातिपदिक) + utpala (प्रातिपदिक) + śyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (बहुपद): प्रेक्षणीयः (देखने योग्यः) च उत्पल-श्यमः (नीलोत्पलवत् श्यामः) च

• sarva-avayava-sundaram: beautiful in all limbs
• sarva-avayava-sundaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + avayava (प्रातिपदिक) + sundara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: सर्वेषां अवयवानां सुन्दरम्

• samāna-karṇa-ābharaṇam: with matching ear-ornaments
• samāna-karṇa-ābharaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samāna (प्रातिपदिक) + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ābharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: समाने कर्णयोः आभरणे यस्य (having matching ear-ornaments)

• su-kapola-unna-sā-ānanam: with lovely cheeks and a high nose, a beautiful face
• su-kapola-unna-sā-ānanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + kapola (प्रातिपदिक) + unna (प्रातिपदिक) + sā (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (बहुपद): सु-कपोलम् (सुन्दर-कपोलम्), उन्न-नासम् (उन्नत-नासिकम्), आननम् (मुखम्)

Purport

Because of the Supreme Lord’s assuming the form of a beautiful woman to arouse the lusty desires of the demons, a description of Her complete beauty is given here.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Mohinī-mūrti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Mohini avatar’s beauty in Canto 8?

In 8.8.42, Śukadeva describes Viṣṇu’s Mohinī form as lotus-dark and irresistibly beautiful in every limb, adorned with matching earrings and a graceful face—beauty that captivates even powerful beings.

Why did Lord Vishnu appear as Mohini during the Samudra Manthan?

In the churning episode, Viṣṇu assumes Mohinī to influence the outcome of the nectar distribution—using divine māyā to protect the devas and uphold cosmic order.

Practical application of Vishnu’s Mohini Leela in modern life?

The verse highlights how external beauty can powerfully attract the mind; practitioners can learn to cultivate discernment and keep devotion centered on the Divine rather than being carried away by appearances.