Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 29
Kapila Describes Bhakti-Saturated Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga and Meditation on the Lord’s Form
भृत्यानुकम्पितधियेह गृहीतमूर्ते: सञ्चिन्तयेद्भगवतो वदनारविन्दम् । यद्विस्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलवल्गितेन विद्योतितामलकपोलमुदारनासम् ॥ २९ ॥
bhṛtyānukampita-dhiyeha gṛhīta-mūrteḥ sañcintayed bhagavato vadanāravindam yad visphuran-makara-kuṇḍala-valgitena vidyotitāmala-kapolam udāra-nāsam
Alors le yogī doit méditer sur le visage du Seigneur, semblable au lotus, Lui qui, par compassion pour les dévots anxieux, manifeste diverses formes en ce monde. Son nez est noble et saillant, et Ses joues limpides comme le cristal sont illuminées par l’oscillation de Ses boucles d’oreilles étincelantes en forme de makara.
The Lord descends to the material world out of His deep compassion for His devotees. There are two reasons for the Lord’s appearance or incarnation in the material world. Whenever there is a discrepancy in the discharge of religious principles and there is prominence of irreligion, the Lord descends for the protection of the devotees and the destruction of the nondevotees. When He appears, His main purpose is to give solace to His devotees. He does not have to come Himself to destroy the demons, for He has many agents; even the external energy, māyā, has sufficient strength to kill them. But when He comes to show compassion to His devotees, He kills the nondevotees as a matter of course.
FAQs
This verse instructs focused contemplation on Bhagavān’s lotus face—visualizing specific divine features—because the Lord compassionately accepts a form for devotees to worship and remember.
Kapila teaches Devahūti a practical method of dhyāna-bhakti: steadying the mind by meditating on vivid, sacred features of the Lord’s form, beginning with the face.
During japa or quiet prayer, gently visualize the Lord’s compassionate face (or gaze upon a deity/picture) and keep the mind anchored to one feature at a time to reduce distraction and deepen devotion.