Shloka 28

The Kingdom of God (Vaikuṇṭha) and the Curse of Jaya and Vijaya

Devanagari script

मत्तद्विरेफवनमालिकया निवीतौ विन्यस्तयासितचतुष्टयबाहुमध्ये । वक्त्रं भ्रुवा कुटिलया स्फुटनिर्गमाभ्यां रक्तेक्षणेन च मनाग्रभसं दधानौ ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

matta-dvirepha-vanamālikayā nivītau vinyastayāsita-catuṣṭaya-bāhu-madhye vaktraṁ bhruvā kuṭilayā sphuṭa-nirgamābhyāṁ raktekṣaṇena ca manāg rabhasaṁ dadhānau

Translation

Les deux gardiens portaient des guirlandes de fleurs fraîches attirant des abeilles enivrées, passées autour du cou et posées entre leurs quatre bras bleuâtres. À leurs sourcils arqués, leurs narines dilatées et leurs yeux rougeoyants, ils paraissaient quelque peu irrités.

Synonyms

• matta-dvirepha-vanamālikayā: with a garland of forest-flowers buzzing with intoxicated bees
• matta-dvirepha-vanamālikayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक) + dvirepha (प्रातिपदिक) + vanamālikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मत्ताः द्विरेफाः यस्यां सा; मत्तद्विरेफ-वनमालिका), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• nivītau: adorned/encircled (with it)
• nivītau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√vī (धातु) → nivīta (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• vinyastayā: placed/arranged
• vinyastayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√nyas (धातु) → vinyasta (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (भ्रुवा इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• asita-catuṣṭaya-bāhu-madhye: in the midst of the four dark arms
• asita-catuṣṭaya-bāhu-madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asita (प्रातिपदिक) + catuṣṭaya (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (असितं चतुष्टयं बाहूनां मध्ये), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vaktram: face
• vaktram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• bhruvā: with the eyebrow
• bhruvā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• kuṭilayā: crooked/arched
• kuṭilayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuṭila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (भ्रू-विशेषणम्)

• sphuṭa-nirgamābhyām: with two clearly visible movements (of the brows)
• sphuṭa-nirgamābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sphuṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + nirgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (स्फुटौ निर्गमौ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• rakta-īkṣaṇena: with a reddened glance
• rakta-īkṣaṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (रक्तम् ईक्षणम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ (and)

• manāk: slightly
• manāk: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: manāk (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अल्पार्थक-अव्यय (slightly)

• rabhasam: impetuosity/harshness
• rabhasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rabhasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (दधानौ इत्यस्य कर्म)

• dadhānau: bearing/assuming
• dadhānau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धातु) → dadhāna (शानच् वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच् (present participle, Ātmanepada sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; (देवौ इत्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण)

Purport

Their garlands attracted swarms of bees because they were garlands of fresh flowers. In the Vaikuṇṭha world everything is fresh, new and transcendental. The inhabitants of Vaikuṇṭha have bodies of bluish color and four hands like Nārāyaṇa.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Viṣṇu (Nārāyaṇa)
• The Four Kumāras

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 say about the appearance of Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha?

This verse depicts Viṣṇu’s majestic yet gentle presence—garlanded with forest flowers alive with bees, with expressive brows and reddish eyes—showing that the Lord’s beauty is both intimate and awe-inspiring for devotees.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing Viṣṇu’s face and eyes in such detail?

In the Vaikuṇṭha narrative, the Lord’s darśana transforms the heart; the detailed description helps listeners meditate on His personal form and qualities, strengthening bhakti through remembrance.

How can a devotee apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Practice devotional visualization and remembrance—regularly hear and contemplate the Lord’s form and qualities—so the mind becomes steady, softened, and naturally drawn toward devotion rather than distraction.