Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

सिंहस्कन्धत्विषो बिभ्रत्सौभगग्रीवकौस्तुभम् । श्रियानपायिन्या क्षिप्तनिकषाश्मोरसोल्लसत् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

siṁha-skandha-tviṣo bibhrat saubhaga-grīva-kaustubham śriyānapāyinyā kṣipta- nikaṣāśmorasollasat

Translation

Les épaules du Seigneur sont telles celles d’un lion, puissantes et lumineuses. Sur elles scintillent sans cesse guirlandes, colliers et ornements. À Son cou de bon augure brille le joyau Kaustubha, et sur Sa poitrine sombre apparaît la marque Śrīvatsa, signe de la présence de la déesse Śrī (Lakṣmī). L’éclat de cette marque surpasse même la beauté d’un trait d’or sur la pierre de touche.

Synonyms

• siṁha-skandha-tviṣaḥ: from the radiance of (his) lion-like shoulders
• siṁha-skandha-tviṣaḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṁha (प्रातिपदिक) + skandha (प्रातिपदिक) + tviṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (tviṣaḥ); तत्पुरुषः (सिंहस्कन्धस्य त्विषः)

• bibhrat: bearing, wearing
• bibhrat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; parasmaipada

• saubhaga-grīva-kaustubham: the Kaustubha jewel on the auspicious neck
• saubhaga-grīva-kaustubham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saubhaga (प्रातिपदिक) + grīvā (प्रातिपदिक) + kaustubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (सौभगयुक्तायां ग्रीवायां कौस्तुभः / ग्रीवाकौस्तुभः)

• śriyā: by/with Śrī (Lakṣmī), splendor
• śriyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• anapāyinyā: never-departing
• anapāyinyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anapāyinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; विशेषणम् (śriyāḥ)

• kṣipta-nikaṣa-aśma-uraḥ-ollasat: whose chest shone as if rubbed on a touchstone
• kṣipta-nikaṣa-aśma-uraḥ-ollasat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣipta (कृदन्त, √kṣip) + nikaṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + aśman (प्रातिपदिक) + uras (प्रातिपदिक) + ollasat (कृदन्त, √las with ud-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—(निकषाश्मना क्षिप्तं (घृष्टं) उरः यस्य, तेन उल्लसत्)

Purport

The curling hair on the shoulders of a lion always appears very, very beautiful. Similarly, the shoulders of the Lord were just like a lion’s, and the necklace and garlands, along with the Kaustubha pearl necklace, combined to excel the beauty of a lion. The chest of the Lord is streaked with Śrīvatsa lines, the sign of the goddess of fortune. Consequently the Lord’s chest excels the beauty of a testing stone for gold. The black siliceous stone on which gold is rubbed to test its value always looks very beautiful, being streaked with gold lines. Yet the chest of the Lord excels even such a stone in its beauty.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Viṣṇu (Nārāyaṇa)
• Śrī Lakṣmī
• Kaustubha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Kaustubha jewel on Lord Vishnu?

This verse states that the Kaustubha gem shines upon Lord Viṣṇu’s auspicious neck, highlighting His divine opulence and beauty as an object of meditation for devotees.

Why is Śrī Lakṣmī described as never leaving Lord Vishnu’s chest in the Bhagavatam?

The verse calls her anapāyinī—unfailing—indicating that fortune, grace, and divine auspiciousness eternally abide with Nārāyaṇa, emphasizing His supreme, self-sufficient lordship.

Practical application of meditating on Vishnu’s divine form in modern life?

Contemplating these divine features trains the mind toward purity and steadiness, replacing anxiety with remembrance of the Lord’s shelter, beauty, and ever-present grace.