Shloka 80

Devanagari script

प्रसन्नचारुवदनं पद्मपत्त्रोपमेक्षणम् सुकपोलं सुविस्तीर्णललाटफलकोज्ज्वलम्

Transliteration

prasannacāruvadanaṃ padmapattropamekṣaṇam sukapolaṃ suvistīrṇalalāṭaphalakojjvalam

Translation

His face was serene and exquisitely beautiful; his eyes were like lotus-petals. His cheeks were comely, and his broad forehead shone with a clear, pure radiance.

Word by Word

• प्रसन्नचारुवदनम्: with a serene and beautiful face
• प्रसन्नचारुवदनम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न-चारु-वदन (प्रातिपदिक; प्रसन्न + चारु + वदन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-कर्मधारयः; विशेषण (रूपम्—अनुवृत्तम्)

• पद्मपत्रोपमेक्षणम्: having eyes like lotus-petals
• पद्मपत्रोपमेक्षणम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म-पत्र-उपम-ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; पद्म + पत्र + उपम + ईक्षण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (पद्मपत्रेण उपमं ईक्षणं यस्य)

• सुकपोलम्: with lovely cheeks
• सुकपोलम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-कपोल (प्रातिपदिक; सु + कपोल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः; विशेषण (रूपम्)

• सुविस्तीर्णललाटफलकोज्ज्वलम्: bright with a broad forehead-plate
• सुविस्तीर्णललाटफलकोज्ज्वलम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-विस्तीर्ण-ललाट-फलक-उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक; सु + विस्तीर्ण + ललाट + फलक + उज्ज्वल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-कर्मधारयः; विशेषण (रूपम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Iconographic meditation details (face/eyes/forehead etc.) of the Lord’s mūrta form.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditation is aided by contemplating the Lord’s serene, lotus-eyed, auspiciously radiant visage as a sacred support for the mind.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: In japa or silent sitting, visualize a calm lotus-eyed face and let the felt sense of auspiciousness (śubha) replace agitation.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s auspicious attributes (kalyāṇa-guṇas) are real and salvific; contemplation of His form/qualities leads the jīva toward grace-enabled liberation.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

FAQs

What is the significance of lotus-like eyes in the Vishnu Purana?

They signify purity, compassion, and transcendence—an iconographic marker that the described figure is divinely auspicious and spiritually elevating to behold.

How does Sage Parāśara communicate divinity through physical description here?

By listing auspicious traits—serenity, lotus-like eyes, radiant forehead—he conveys inner supremacy and benevolent sovereignty through outward signs (lakṣaṇa) recognized in Vaishnava tradition.

What is the theological importance of this verse in Vaishnava philosophy?

It frames the Lord’s beauty as not merely aesthetic but revelatory: the Supreme Reality is gracious, auspicious, and accessible to devotion through contemplation of His form.