Shloka 10

The Appearance of Lord Viṣṇu (Kṛṣṇa) and the Divine Exchange with Yoga-māyā

Devanagari script

तमद्भ‍ुतं बालकमम्बुजेक्षणं चतुर्भुजं शङ्खगदाद्युदायुधम् । श्रीवत्सलक्ष्मं गलशोभिकौस्तुभं पीताम्बरं सान्द्रपयोदसौभगम् ॥ ९ ॥ महार्हवैदूर्यकिरीटकुण्डल- त्विषा परिष्वक्तसहस्रकुन्तलम् । उद्दामकाञ्‍च्यङ्गदकङ्कणादिभि- र्विरोचमानं वसुदेव ऐक्षत ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

tam adbhutaṁ bālakam ambujekṣaṇaṁ catur-bhujaṁ śaṅkha-gadādy-udāyudham śrīvatsa-lakṣmaṁ gala-śobhi-kaustubhaṁ pītāmbaraṁ sāndra-payoda-saubhagam

Translation

Vasudeva saw that the child’s abundant hair was bathed in the uncommon radiance of a crown and earrings set with precious Vaidūrya gems. Adorned with a splendid belt, armlets, bangles, and other ornaments, the Divine Infant shone brilliantly—wonderful in every way.

Synonyms

• mahārha-vaidūrya-kirīṭa-kuṇḍala-tviṣā: by the radiance of the precious vaidūrya crown and earrings
• mahārha-vaidūrya-kirīṭa-kuṇḍala-tviṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahārha (प्रातिपदिक) + vaidūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + kirīṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक) + tviṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुष-समूहसमासः (महार्ह-वैदूर्य-किरीट-कुण्डलानां त्विषा = by the radiance of costly vaidūrya crown and earrings)

• pariṣvakta-sahasra-kuntalam: with abundant locks arranged/encircled
• pariṣvakta-sahasra-kuntalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√svaj (धातु) + pariṣvakta (कृदन्त) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + kuntala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular); भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘परिष्वक्त’ = embraced/encircled; तत्पुरुषः (सहस्रकुन्तलम् = having thousands of locks; परिष्वक्तं सहस्रकुन्तलं यस्य = whose abundant locks were encircled/arranged)

• uddāma-kāñcī-aṅgada-kaṅkaṇa-ādibhiḥ: with splendid belt, armlets, bracelets, etc.
• uddāma-kāñcī-aṅgada-kaṅkaṇa-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uddāma (प्रातिपदिक) + kāñcī (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṅkaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (collective), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural); द्वन्द्व-समाहारः (काञ्ची-अङ्गद-कङ्कण-आदि = belt, armlets, bracelets, etc.)

• virocāmānam: shining
• virocāmānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√ruc (धातु) + virocāmāna (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular)

• vasudevaḥ: Vasudeva
• vasudevaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (singular)

• aikṣata: saw
• aikṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

Purport

To support the word adbhutam, meaning “wonderful,” the decorations and opulences of the newborn child are fully described. As confirmed in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.30) , barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgam: the hue of the Lord’s beautiful form resembles the blackish color of dense clouds ( asita means “blackish,” and ambuda means “cloud”). It is clear from the word catur-bhujam that Kṛṣṇa first appeared with four hands, as Lord Viṣṇu. No ordinary child in human society has ever been born with four hands. And when is a child born with fully grown hair? The descent of the Lord, therefore, is completely distinct from the birth of an ordinary child. The Vaidūrya gem, which sometimes appears bluish, sometimes yellow and sometimes red, is available in Vaikuṇṭhaloka. The Lord’s helmet and earrings were decorated with this particular gem.

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Lord Kṛṣṇa (Viṣṇu form)

FAQs

Why does baby Krishna appear with four arms in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 3?

This verse describes the newborn Lord revealing His Viṣṇu-like, four-armed form with conch and mace to Vasudeva, establishing His supreme divinity before later assuming the two-armed child form for intimate pastimes.

What is the meaning of Śrīvatsa and the Kaustubha jewel mentioned in this shloka?

Śrīvatsa is an auspicious mark on the Lord’s chest, and Kaustubha is His celebrated jewel; together they signify the Lord’s eternal, transcendental identity and majesty.

How can devotees apply this verse in modern spiritual practice?

Use the verse for dhyāna (meditative remembrance): contemplate the Lord’s lotus eyes, divine ornaments, and compassionate majesty, strengthening faith that the Supreme personally appears to protect and bless His devotees.