Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

स्‍निग्धप्रावृड्‌घनश्यामं सर्वसौन्दर्यसङ्ग्रहम् । चार्वायतचतुर्बाहु सुजातरुचिराननम् ॥ ४५ ॥ पद्मकोशपलाशाक्षं सुन्दरभ्रु सुनासिकम् । सुद्विजं सुकपोलास्यं समकर्णविभूषणम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

snigdha-prāvṛḍ-ghana-śyāmaṁ sarva-saundarya-saṅgraham cārv-āyata-catur-bāhu sujāta-rucirānanam

Translation

The Lord’s beauty is like a dark, lustrous rain cloud; He is the very treasury of all loveliness. He bears four arms and a supremely charming face—eyes like lotus petals, graceful brows, and a noble, raised nose. His teeth shine, his cheeks enchant, and both ears are evenly adorned with ornaments.

Synonyms

• पद्म-कोश-पलाश-अक्षम्: lotus-petal-eyed
• पद्म-कोश-पलाश-अक्षम्: कर्म (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कोश (प्रातिपदिक) + पलाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘पद्मकोशपलाशवत् अक्षिणी यस्य’ (whose eyes are like lotus-bud petals)

• सुन्दर-भ्रु: with beautiful eyebrows
• सुन्दर-भ्रु: कर्म (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (भ्रू), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (indeclinable-like in compound usage); कर्मधारय—‘सुन्दरी भ्रूः’ (beautiful eyebrow[s])

• सु-नासिकम्: with a fine nose
• सु-नासिकम्: कर्म (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘सुन्दरी नासिका यस्य’ (having a fine nose)

• सु-द्विजम्: with beautiful teeth
• सु-द्विजम्: कर्म (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘सुन्दराः द्विजाः (दन्ताः) यस्य’ (with beautiful teeth)

• सु-कपोल-आस्यम्: with lovely cheeks and face
• सु-कपोल-आस्यम्: कर्म (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + कपोल (प्रातिपदिक) + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘सुन्दरौ कपोलौ आस्यं च यस्य’ (having lovely cheeks and mouth/face)

• सम-कर्ण-विभूषणम्: with matching ear-ornaments
• सम-कर्ण-विभूषणम्: कर्म (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘समौ कर्णौ (यत्र) विभूषणैः’/‘समकर्णं विभूषणं यस्य’ (with symmetrical ear-ornaments)

Purport

After the scorching heat of the summer season, it is very pleasing to see dark clouds in the sky. As confirmed in Brahma-saṁhitā, barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgam: the Lord wears a peacock feather in His hair, and His bodily complexion is just like a blackish cloud. The word sundara, or snigdha, means “very pleasing.” Kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya: Kṛṣṇa’s beauty is so pleasing that not even millions upon millions of Cupids can compare to it. The Lord’s form as Viṣṇu is decorated in all opulence; therefore Lord Śiva is trying to see that most opulent form of Nārāyaṇa, or Viṣṇu. Generally the worship of the Lord begins with the worship of Nārāyaṇa, or Viṣṇu, whereas the worship of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā is most confidential. Lord Nārāyaṇa is worshipable by the pāñcarātrika-vidhi, or regulative principles, whereas Lord Kṛṣṇa is worshipable by the bhāgavata-vidhi. No one can worship the Lord in the bhāgavata-vidhi without going through the regulations of the pāñcarātrika-vidhi. Actually, neophyte devotees worship the Lord according to the pāñcarātrika-vidhi, or the regulative principles enjoined in the Nārada-pañcarātra. Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa cannot be approached by the neophyte devotees; therefore temple worship according to regulative principles is offered to Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa. Although there may be a Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa vigraha, or form, the worship of the neophyte devotees is acceptable as Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa worship. Worship according to the pāñcarātrika-vidhi is called vidhi-mārga, and worship according to the bhāgavata-vidhi principles is called rāga-mārga. The principles of rāga-mārga are especially meant for devotees who are elevated to the Vṛndāvana platform.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Viṣṇu (the Supreme Lord)
• Pracetās (the sons of King Prācīnabarhi)

FAQs

How does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe the form of Lord Vishnu in Canto 4 Chapter 24?

It describes Him as monsoon-cloud dark, the embodiment of all beauty, with four long graceful arms, lotus-petal eyes, and perfectly symmetrical ornaments—an intensely attractive divine form seen by the devotees.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing Lord Vishnu’s physical features to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva narrates the Pracetās’ encounter with the Lord to show how devotion culminates in direct realization (darśana) of the Supreme Person, whose beauty naturally awakens bhakti and remembrance.

What is a practical takeaway from meditating on the Lord’s lotus eyes and beautiful form?

Regularly contemplating the Lord’s form (rūpa-dhyāna) steadies the mind, reduces attraction to temporary objects, and deepens devotional feeling through constant remembrance.