Shloka 45
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 ॥
etasminn antare viṣṇuḥ sarvopāya-vid īśvaraḥ yoṣid-rūpam anirdeśyaṁ dadhāra-paramādbhutam
Her body was covered with a clean sari, and Her breasts seemed like islands in an ocean of beauty. Her legs were decorated with ankle bells.
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.
FAQs
In this section (Canto 8, Chapter 8), Śukadeva describes Viṣṇu assuming Mohinī-mūrti—an exquisitely enchanting form—whose beauty and ornaments (like the waist-belt and anklets in this verse) mesmerize the asuras, enabling the Lord’s divine plan to protect the devas.
After amṛta appeared, conflict arose over its distribution. Viṣṇu manifested as Mohinī to captivate the demons and arrange the nectar’s distribution according to dharma, safeguarding the cosmic order and the devas.
The verse highlights how external charm can powerfully sway the mind; it encourages vigilance and self-control, reminding seekers to prioritize discernment (viveka) over sensory fascination.