Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 51

Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)

Devanagari script

श्यामश्रोण्यधिरोचिष्णुदुकूलस्वर्णमेखलम् । समचार्वङ्‌घ्रिजङ्घोरुनिम्नजानुसुदर्शनम् ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

śyāma-śroṇy-adhi-rociṣṇu- dukūla-svarṇa-mekhalam sama-cārv-aṅghri-jaṅghoru- nimna-jānu-sudarśanam

Translation

La parte inferior de la cintura del Señor es oscura y está cubierta por vestiduras amarillas y un cinturón adornado con bordados de oro. Sus pies de loto, simétricos, y sus pantorrillas, muslos y articulaciones de las piernas son extraordinariamente hermosos. En verdad, todo el cuerpo del Señor parece perfectamente formado y bien proporcionado.

Synonyms

• śyāma-śroṇī-adhi-rociṣṇu-dukūla-svarṇa-mekhalam: with dark hips, a splendid garment, and a golden girdle
• śyāma-śroṇī-adhi-rociṣṇu-dukūla-svarṇa-mekhalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śyāma (प्रातिपदिक) + śroṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + adhi-rociṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + dukūla (प्रातिपदिक) + svarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + mekhalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—(श्यामश्रोणी, अधिरोचिष्णु दुकूलं, स्वर्णमेखला च यस्य)

• sama-cāru-aṅghri-jaṅghā-ūru-nimna-jānu-sudarśanam: whose feet, shanks, thighs, and slightly-bent knees were symmetrical and beautiful
• sama-cāru-aṅghri-jaṅghā-ūru-nimna-jānu-sudarśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक) + cāru (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅghri (प्रातिपदिक) + jaṅghā (प्रातिपदिक) + ūru (प्रातिपदिक) + nimna (प्रातिपदिक) + jānu (प्रातिपदिक) + sudarśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—(समाः चारवः अङ्घ्रयः, जङ्घे, ऊरू, निम्ने जानुनी, सुदर्शनं च यस्य)

Purport

Lord Śiva is one of the twelve great authorities mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.3.20). These authorities are Svayambhū, Nārada, Śambhu, Kumāra, Kapila, Manu, Prahlāda, Janaka, Bhīṣma, Bali, Vaiyāsaki, or Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and Yamarāja. The impersonalists, who generally worship Lord Śiva, should learn of the transcendental sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha of the Lord. Here Lord Śiva kindly describes the details of the Lord’s bodily features. Thus the impersonalists’ argument that the Lord has no form cannot be accepted under any circumstance.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Rudra)
• Pracetās

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about meditating on the Lord’s form (rūpa-dhyāna)?

This verse models devotional contemplation by describing the Lord’s beautifully proportioned limbs and ornaments, guiding the mind to steady itself on a sacred, personal form rather than on abstraction.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing this divine form in Canto 4 Chapter 24?

In the narrative of the Pracetās’ prayers, Śukadeva details the Lord’s appearance to support their devotion—showing how divine darśana and vivid remembrance deepen surrender and praise.

How can devotees apply this verse in modern life?

Use the verse as a prompt for daily remembrance: read it slowly, visualize the divine form with reverence, and let that focused meditation replace anxiety and distraction with devotion.