Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 10

Kardama Muni’s Penance, Viṣṇu’s Darśana, and the Arrangement of Devahūti’s Marriage

Devanagari script

किरीटिनं कुण्डलिनं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् । श्वेतोत्पलक्रीडनकं मन:स्पर्शस्मितेक्षणम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

kirīṭinaṁ kuṇḍalinaṁ śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharam śvetotpala-krīḍanakaṁ manaḥ-sparśa-smitekṣaṇam

Translation

Adorned with crown and earrings, the Lord held conch, disc, and mace in three hands, and a white lotus in the fourth; His joyful, smiling glance enchanted the hearts of all devotees.

Synonyms

• किरीटिनम्: wearing a crown
• किरीटिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किरीटिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; -इन्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (possessive adj.)

• कुण्डलिनम्: wearing earrings
• कुण्डलिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुण्डलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; -इन्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-धरम्: bearing conch, discus, and mace
• शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-धरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त; धृ धातु, क्तृ/अच्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (उपपद-तत्पुरुषः) ‘शङ्खं चक्रं गदां च धरति’

• श्वेत-उत्पल-क्रीडनकम्: having a white-lotus plaything/ornament
• श्वेत-उत्पल-क्रीडनकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्पल (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रीडनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विशेष्य-विशेषण/कर्मधारय-प्राय) ‘श्वेतं च तत् उत्पलं’ + ‘उत्पलेन क्रीडनकम्/क्रीडनकं यस्य’ (अर्थतः श्वेतोत्पल-सम्बद्धम्)

• मनः-स्पर्श-स्मित-ईक्षणम्: with a smiling glance that touches the mind
• मनः-स्पर्श-स्मित-ईक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मित (कृदन्त; स्मि धातु, क्त) + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्राय) ‘मनः स्पृशति’ इति मनःस्पर्शः; ‘स्मितं च तत् ईक्षणम्’—‘whose smiling glance touches the mind’

Characters & Entities

• Lord Viṣṇu
• Kardama Muni

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam describe about Lord Vishnu’s form (shankha chakra gada dhari)?

This verse portrays the Lord as crowned and ornamented, holding the conch, discus, and mace—revealing His supreme, protective Viṣṇu form that inspires devotion and surrender.

Why is Lord Vishnu shown holding a white lotus in Bhagavatam Canto 3?

The white lotus signifies purity and auspiciousness; the verse highlights the Lord’s gentle, playful beauty that captivates the devotee’s heart, not merely His majesty.

Practical application: how can a devotee use this verse in modern bhakti practice?

Meditate on the Lord’s form while chanting—crown, earrings, conch, discus, mace, and lotus—and remember that His compassionate smile and glance soften the mind and steady devotion.