Shloka 40
The Kingdom of God (Vaikuṇṭha) and the Curse of Jaya and Vijaya
पीतांशुके पृथुनितम्बिनि विस्फुरन्त्या काञ्च्यालिभिर्विरुतया वनमालया च । वल्गुप्रकोष्ठवलयं विनतासुतांसे विन्यस्तहस्तमितरेण धुनानमब्जम् ॥ ४० ॥
pītāṁśuke pṛthu-nitambini visphurantyā kāñcyālibhir virutayā vana-mālayā ca valgu-prakoṣṭha-valayaṁ vinatā-sutāṁse vinyasta-hastam itareṇa dhunānam abjam
He was adorned with a radiant girdle upon the yellow cloth that covered His broad hips, and with a vanamālā of fresh flowers, alive with the humming of bees. Bracelets graced His lovely wrists; one hand rested on Garuḍa’s shoulder, and with the other He gently twirled a lotus.
Here is a full description of the Personality of Godhead as personally experienced by the sages. The Lord’s personal body was covered with yellow robes, and His waist was thin. In Vaikuṇṭha, whenever there is a flower garland on the chest of the Personality of Godhead or any one of His associates, it is described that the humming bees are there. All these features were very beautiful and attractive for the devotees. One of the Lord’s hands rested on His carrier, Garuḍa, and in another hand He twirled a lotus flower. These are personal characteristics of the Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa.
FAQs
This verse depicts the Lord in yellow garments with a sweet-sounding jeweled belt, forest garland, charming bracelets, one hand resting on Garuḍa’s shoulder, and a lotus gently waved in the other—an iconic Vaikuṇṭha vision meant for devotional meditation.
Garuḍa is the Lord’s eternal carrier and intimate attendant; the detail of the Lord placing His hand on Garuḍa’s shoulder highlights closeness, protection, and the personal, relational nature of Vaikuṇṭha service.
Use the verse for dhyāna (devotional visualization): contemplate the Lord’s compassionate, beautiful form and His lotus-bearing hand, cultivating steady remembrance (smaraṇa) and affectionate devotion rather than abstract spirituality.