Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 4

The Glories of Lord Ananta (Śeṣa/Saṅkarṣaṇa) and the Cosmic Foundation Beneath Pātāla

Devanagari script

यस्याङ्‌घ्रिकमलयुगलारुणविशदनखमणिषण्डमण्डलेष्वहिपतय: सह सात्वतर्षभैरेकान्तभक्तियोगेनावनमन्त: स्ववदनानि परिस्फुरत्कुण्डलप्रभामण्डितगण्डस्थलान्यतिमनोहराणि प्रमुदितमनस: खलु विलोकयन्ति ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

yasyāṅghri-kamala-yugalāruṇa-viśada-nakha-maṇi-ṣaṇḍa-maṇḍaleṣv ahi-patayaḥ saha sātvatarṣabhair ekānta-bhakti-yogenāvanamantaḥ sva-vadanāni parisphurat-kuṇḍala-prabhā-maṇḍita-gaṇḍa-sthalāny ati-manoharāṇi pramudita-manasaḥ khalu vilokayanti.

Translation

Les ongles rosés et translucides des pieds de lotus du Seigneur sont tels des gemmes précieuses polies jusqu’à luire comme un miroir. Lorsque les souverains des serpents et les purs dévots vaiṣṇavas se prosternent devant Śrī Saṅkarṣaṇa dans une bhakti exclusive, ils exultent en voyant leurs propres visages se refléter dans ces ongles ; leurs joues, ornées de l’éclat des boucles d’oreilles, deviennent d’une beauté ravissante.

Synonyms

• yasya: of whom
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• aṅghri-kamala-yugala-aruṇa-viśada-nakha-maṇi-ṣaṇḍa-maṇḍaleṣu: on the circular clusters of jewel-like nails, clear and reddish, of his lotus-like pair of feet
• aṅghri-kamala-yugala-aruṇa-viśada-nakha-maṇi-ṣaṇḍa-maṇḍaleṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅghri + kamala + yugala + aruṇa + viśada + nakha + maṇi + ṣaṇḍa + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (aṅghryoḥ kamalavat yugale; nakhānāṁ maṇi-ṣaṇḍasya maṇḍalāni)

• ahi-patayaḥ: lords of serpents
• ahi-patayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahi + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ahīnām patayaḥ)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-योगे अव्यय (with, along with)

• sātvata-ṛṣabhaiḥ: with the foremost among the Sātvatas
• sātvata-ṛṣabhaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sātvata + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (sātvateṣu ṛṣabhāḥ)

• ekānta-bhakti-yogena: by the yoga of exclusive devotion
• ekānta-bhakti-yogena: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekānta + bhakti + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ekāntāyā bhakteḥ yogaḥ)

• avanamantaḥ: bowing down
• avanamantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-nam (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक, ahi-patayaḥ विशेषण

• sva-vadanāni: their own faces
• sva-vadanāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (svāni vadanāni)

• parisphurat-kuṇḍala-prabhā-maṇḍita-gaṇḍa-sthalāni: (faces) whose cheek-areas are adorned by the glow of shimmering earrings
• parisphurat-kuṇḍala-prabhā-maṇḍita-gaṇḍa-sthalāni: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parisphurat (कृदन्त) + kuṇḍala + prabhā + maṇḍita (कृदन्त) + gaṇḍa + sthala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (sva-vadanāni) — ‘cheek-areas adorned with the radiance of flashing earrings’

• ati-manoharāṇi: very charming
• ati-manoharāṇi: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati + manohara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (ati- as intensifier) विशेषण (vadanāni)

• pramudita-manasaḥ: with delighted minds
• pramudita-manasaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pramudita (कृदन्त) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (yeṣāṁ manāṁsi pramuditāni) विशेषण (ahi-patayaḥ)

• khalu: indeed
• khalu: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: khalu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/assurance)

• vilokayanti: they behold
• vilokayanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-lok (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Ananta Śeṣa (Anantadeva)
• Nāga-patis (serpent kings)
• Sātvata-ṛṣabhas (foremost devotees/Vaiṣṇavas)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord’s lotus feet and devotional darśana?

This verse says that the Lord’s lotus feet are so spiritually radiant that devoted souls bow down and joyfully behold even the brilliance of His nails, and that vision fills the heart with delight.

Who is being described in Bhagavatam 5.25.4, and who is speaking?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes Ananta Śeṣa (Anantadeva) and how the serpent-lords and the foremost devotees bow to Him and relish the beauty of His lotus feet.

How can ekānta-bhakti (one-pointed devotion) be practiced in modern life?

By keeping devotion centered on the Lord—through regular hearing/chanting, prayerful remembrance, and humble service—so the mind learns to bow inwardly and seek sacred vision rather than distraction.