Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 24

Transmission of Bhāgavata Wisdom and Brahmā’s Vision of the Supreme Lord on Ananta

Devanagari script

प्रेक्षां क्षिपन्तं हरितोपलाद्रे: सन्ध्याभ्रनीवेरुरुरुक्‍ममूर्ध्न: । रत्नोदधारौषधिसौमनस्य वनस्रजो वेणुभुजाङ्‌घ्रि पाङ्‌घ्रे : ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

prekṣāṁ kṣipantaṁ haritopalādreḥ sandhyābhra-nīver uru-rukma-mūrdhnaḥ ratnodadhārauṣadhi-saumanasya vana-srajo veṇu-bhujāṅghripāṅghreḥ

Translation

L’éclat du corps transcendantal du Seigneur semblait tourner en dérision la beauté de la montagne de pierre verte. Bien que la montagne corallienne fût parée des nuées du crépuscule, le pītāmbara, la robe jaune du Seigneur, en surpassait la splendeur. L’or du sommet pâlissait devant son casque serti de joyaux. Cascades, plantes et fleurs offraient comme des guirlandes, mais l’immense forme du Seigneur, et ses bras et ses pieds ornés de gemmes, de perles, de feuilles de tulasī et de malas de fleurs, éclipsaient tout le paysage.

Synonyms

• prekṣām: a glance; sight
• prekṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prekṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; object sense ‘glance/sight’

• kṣipantam: casting; throwing
• kṣipantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘throwing/casting’ (agreeing with implied object/person)

• harita-upala-adreḥ: of the green-gem mountain
• harita-upala-adreḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: harita (प्रातिपदिक) + upala (प्रातिपदिक) + adri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘of the mountain of green stones (emerald-like)’

• sandhyā-abhra-nīveḥ: of (him) with a twilight-cloud-like waistcloth
• sandhyā-abhra-nīveḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक) + abhra (प्रातिपदिक) + nīvi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of (one) whose waist-cloth is like twilight-clouds’ (genitive descriptor)

• uru-rukma-mūrdhnaḥ: of (him) with a head (adorned) with much gold
• uru-rukma-mūrdhnaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uru (प्रातिपदिक) + rukma (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of (him) whose head is adorned with abundant gold’

• ratna-udadhi-auṣadhi-saumanasya: of (him) with jewel-ocean-herb-like fragrance/pleasantness
• ratna-udadhi-auṣadhi-saumanasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + udadhi (प्रातिपदिक) + auṣadhi (प्रातिपदिक) + saumanasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of (him) whose (garland’s) fragrance/pleasantness is (like) jewels, ocean, and herbs’ (poetic genitive qualifier)

• vana-srajaḥ: forest garlands
• vana-srajaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + sraj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन/एकवचन (काव्ये रूपसाम्यसम्भव); here as descriptor ‘forest-garland’ (vana-mālā)

• veṇu-bhuja-aṅghri-pāṅghreḥ: of (him) with flute, arms, and feet (as attributes)
• veṇu-bhuja-aṅghri-pāṅghreḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅghri (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṅghri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (अङ्गसमूह): ‘of (him) with flute, arms, feet’ (poetic piling of attributes)

Purport

The panoramic beauty of nature, which strikes one with wonder, may be taken as a perverted reflection of the transcendental body of the Lord. One who is therefore attracted by the beauty of the Lord is no longer attracted by the beauty of material nature, although he does not minimize its beauty. In Bhagavad-gītā (2.59) it is described that one who is attracted by param, the Supreme, is no longer attracted by anything inferior.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (The Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 3.8.24 describe about Lord Vishnu’s form?

It poetically describes the Lord’s divine beauty—emerald-like complexion, golden crown shining like a twilight cloud, and a fragrant forest-garland—seen by Brahmā as the Lord casts His glance.

Why is Brahmā seeing Vishnu in Canto 3 Chapter 8?

Brahmā, born on the lotus from the Lord, seeks the source and purpose of creation; in response to his inquiry and austerity, he receives the Lord’s darśana and guidance.

How can a devotee apply the lesson of this verse in modern life?

By practicing devotional contemplation (smaraṇa)—regularly meditating on the Lord’s form and qualities—one steadies the mind and deepens faith, especially during confusion or uncertainty.