Shloka 41

विद्युत्क्षिपन्मकरकुण्डलमण्डनार्ह- गण्डस्थलोन्नसमुखं मणिमत्किरीटम् । दोर्दण्डषण्डविवरे हरता परार्ध्य- हारेण कन्धरगतेन च कौस्तुभेन ॥ ४१ ॥

vidyut-kṣipan-makara-kuṇḍala-maṇḍanārha- gaṇḍa-sthalonnasa-mukhaṁ maṇimat-kirīṭam dor-daṇḍa-ṣaṇḍa-vivare haratā parārdhya- hāreṇa kandhara-gatena ca kaustubhena

His countenance was graced by cheeks that enhanced the beauty of His makara-shaped earrings, flashing brighter than lightning. His nose was noble and prominent, and His head bore a crown studded with gems. Between His mighty arms hung a most precious necklace, and upon His neck shone the jewel called Kaustubha.

विद्युत्-क्षिपत्-मकर-कुण्डल-मण्डन-अर्ह-गण्ड-स्थल-उन्नस-मुखम्whose face and cheeks are adorned with flashing makara-earrings
विद्युत्-क्षिपत्-मकर-कुण्डल-मण्डन-अर्ह-गण्ड-स्थल-उन्नस-मुखम्:
कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
TypeAdjective
Rootविद्युत् + क्षिपत्(√क्षिप्) + मकर + कुण्डल + मण्डन + अर्ह + गण्ड + स्थल + उन्नस + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-समूह: (विद्युदिव) क्षिपत् (flashing) मकरकुण्डलमण्डनार्हे गण्डस्थले यस्य, उन्नसं मुखं यस्य—describing the Lord; तम् इति विशेषण
मणिमत्-किरीटम्a jeweled crown
मणिमत्-किरीटम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object—descriptive)
TypeNoun
Rootमणिमत् + किरीट (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: मणिमत् किरीटम् (jeweled crown)
दोः-दण्ड-षण्ड-विवरेin the space between his arms
दोः-दण्ड-षण्ड-विवरे:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
TypeNoun
Rootदोः + दण्ड + षण्ड + विवर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: दोर्दण्डषण्डस्य विवरः (the space between the clusters of arms)
हरताcaptivating
हरता:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Root√हृ (धातु)
Formवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘stealing/captivating’—qualifying हारेण/कौस्तुभेन (by which it captivates)
परार्ध्य-हारेणwith a priceless necklace
परार्ध्य-हारेण:
करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootपरार्ध्य + हार (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: परार्ध्यः हारः (most precious necklace)
कन्धर-गतेनresting on the neck
कन्धर-गतेन:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootकन्धर + गत (कृदन्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कन्धरे गतः (resting on the neck); हारेण इति विशेषण
and
:
समुच्चय (Conjunction)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)
कौस्तुभेनwith the Kaustubha gem
कौस्तुभेन:
करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootकौस्तुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण: ‘with the Kaustubha gem’
B
Bhagavān (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

This verse highlights the Kaustubha as a distinctive jewel resting on the Lord’s neck, emphasizing His supreme, captivating beauty and divine identity.

In the Vaikuṇṭha narration, the detailed description fixes the listener’s mind on the Lord’s transcendental form, strengthening devotion through remembrance and contemplation.

Use the verse as a meditation prompt—regularly contemplate the Lord’s form and qualities to steady the mind, reduce distraction, and deepen bhakti through smaraṇa (remembrance).