Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 5

The Pracetās Meet Lord Viṣṇu—Benedictions, Pure Prayer, and the Birth of Dakṣa

Devanagari script

सुपर्णस्कन्धमारूढो मेरुश‍ृङ्गमिवाम्बुद: । पीतवासा मणिग्रीव: कुर्वन्वितिमिरा दिश: ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

suparṇa-skandham ārūḍho meru-śṛṅgam ivāmbudaḥ pīta-vāsā maṇi-grīvaḥ kurvan vitimirā diśaḥ

Translation

Le Seigneur, juché sur l’épaule de Garuḍa, semblait tel un nuage posé au sommet du mont Meru. Vêtu de jaune, le cou orné du joyau Kaustubha, l’éclat de Son corps dissipait les ténèbres dans toutes les directions de l’univers.

Synonyms

• सुपर्णस्कन्धम्: the back of Suparṇa (Garuḍa)
• सुपर्णस्कन्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुपर्ण-स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘सुपर्णस्य स्कन्धः’ (Garuḍa’s back/shoulder)

• आरूढः: mounted
• आरूढः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past Active Participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आरोहितः’

• मेरुशृङ्गम्: Meru’s peak
• मेरुशृङ्गम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु-शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘मेरोः शृङ्गम्’

• इव: like/as
• इव: Upama (उपमा/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अम्बुदः: a cloud
• अम्बुदः: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पीतवाः: wearing yellow garments
• पीतवाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत-वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘पीतं वासः यस्य’ (wearing yellow garments)

• मणिग्रीवः: with a jewel-adorned neck
• मणिग्रीवः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि-ग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘मणिमयी ग्रीवा यस्य/मणिभूषितग्रीवः’

• कुर्वन्: making
• कुर्वन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present Active Participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वितिमिराः: free from darkness
• वितिमिराः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-तिमिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with दिशः)

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

Purport

As stated in Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Madhya 22.31) :

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Lord Viṣṇu (Bhagavān)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Viṣṇu removing darkness?

In this verse (4.30.5), Lord Viṣṇu’s effulgent presence is described as making all directions free from darkness, indicating that divine darśana dispels both external and inner ignorance.

Why is Lord Viṣṇu described as riding Garuḍa in Bhagavatam Canto 4 Chapter 30?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī depicts the Lord approaching the Pracetās in a majestic, recognizable form—mounted on Garuḍa—signifying His swift mercy and His role as the supreme protector of devotees.

Practical application of the Lord’s ‘radiance’ in modern life?

The verse teaches that remembrance of Bhagavān—through śravaṇa, kīrtana, and meditation—clears the ‘darkness’ of confusion, fear, and doubt, guiding one toward clarity and devotional steadiness.