Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 21

Dakṣa’s Sacrifice Restored: Śiva’s Mercy and Nārāyaṇa’s Appearance

Devanagari script

वक्षस्यधिश्रितवधूर्वनमाल्युदार हासावलोककलया रमयंश्च विश्वम् । पार्श्वभ्रमद्वय‍जनचामरराजहंस: श्वेतातपत्रशशिनोपरि रज्यमान: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

vakṣasy adhiśrita-vadhūr vana-māly udāra- hāsāvaloka-kalayā ramayaṁś ca viśvam pārśva-bhramad-vyajana-cāmara-rāja-haṁsaḥ śvetātapatra-śaśinopari rajyamānaḥ

Translation

Sur sa poitrine demeuraient Śrī Lakṣmī et la guirlande forestière, ce qui rendait Viṣṇu d’une beauté incomparable. Par son sourire et la grâce de son regard, il ravissait l’univers entier, surtout les dévots. De chaque côté, des éventails blancs ondoyaient tels des cygnes royaux, et au-dessus, l’ombrelle blanche brillait comme la lune.

Synonyms

• vakṣasi: on the chest
• vakṣasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka (neut.), Saptamī vibhakti (Loc. 7th), Ekavacana

• adhiśrita-vadhūḥ: the consort resting (there)
• adhiśrita-vadhūḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhi-√śri (धातु) + kta (क्त) + vadhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (fem.), Prathamā, Ekavacana; kta-participle ‘adhiśrita’ qualifying vadhū: ‘the bride/consort who has taken refuge/abides’

• vana-mālī: wearing a forest garland
• vana-mālī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘wearing a forest-garland’

• udāra-hāsa-avaloka-kalayā: by a trace of noble smile and glance
• udāra-hāsa-avaloka-kalayā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udāra (प्रातिपदिक) + hāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + avaloka (प्रातिपदिक) + kalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘by the portion/trace (kalā) of noble smile and glance’

• ramayan: delighting
• ramayan: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ram (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle), Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; parasmaipada sense

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• viśvam: the universe
• viśvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana

• pārśva-bhramat-vyajana-cāmara-rāja-haṁsaḥ: (he) with swan-like royal chowries moving at his sides
• pārśva-bhramat-vyajana-cāmara-rāja-haṁsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक) + √bhram (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ) + vyajana (प्रातिपदिक) + cāmara (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja-haṁsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: ‘(he) whose royal swan-like (rāja-haṁsa) yak-tail fans (cāmara-vyajana) are moving (bhramat) at the sides (pārśva)’

• śveta-ātapatra-śaśinaḥ: of the moon-like white parasol
• śveta-ātapatra-śaśinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śveta (प्रातिपदिक) + ātapatra (प्रातिपदिक) + śaśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Gen. 6th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘of the moon of a white parasol’ (i.e., the white parasol like the moon)

• upari: above
• upari: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upari (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (adverb/preposition)

• rajyamānaḥ: shining/resplendent
• rajyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √rañj (धातु) + yamāna (यमान/शानच्)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present middle/passive participle), Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ātmanepada sense: ‘being resplendent/being colored’

Purport

The smiling face of Lord Viṣṇu is pleasing to the whole world. Not only devotees but even nondevotees are attracted by such a smile. This verse nicely describes how the sun, moon, eight-petaled lotus flower and humming black bees were represented by the fans of hair, the overhead canopy, the moving earrings on both sides of His face, and His blackish hair. All together, accompanied by the conchshell, wheel, club, lotus flower, bow, arrows, shield and sword in His hands, these presented a grand and beautiful audience for Lord Viṣṇu which captivated all the demigods there, including Dakṣa and Lord Brahmā.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmī (Śrī)
• Lord Viṣṇu (Nārāyaṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the beauty of Lord Viṣṇu?

This verse portrays Viṣṇu’s divine beauty as spiritually captivating—His smile and glances delight the universe, Lakṣmī rests upon His chest, and His majesty is honored with cāmara fans and a white parasol.

Why is Lakṣmī described as residing on Lord Viṣṇu’s chest in the Bhagavatam?

It signifies the inseparable relationship between Nārāyaṇa and Śrī (Lakṣmī): He is the eternal shelter of auspiciousness, prosperity, and grace, and devotees approach Him with reverence through that divine mercy.

Practical application of remembering Viṣṇu’s form in modern life?

Regularly meditating on the Lord’s compassionate smile and protective majesty helps calm the mind, reduce envy and anger, and re-center one’s actions around devotion, humility, and dharma.