Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

तस्यारविन्दनयनस्य पदारविन्द- किञ्जल्कमिश्रतुलसीमकरन्दवायु: । अन्तर्गत: स्वविवरेण चकार तेषां सङ्‌क्षोभमक्षरजुषामपि चित्ततन्वो: ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

tasyāravinda-nayanasya padāravinda- kiñjalka-miśra-tulasī-makaranda-vāyuḥ antar-gataḥ sva-vivareṇa cakāra teṣāṁ saṅkṣobham akṣara-juṣām api citta-tanvoḥ

Translation

蓮華の御眼をもつ主の蓮華の御足の趾から、花粉に混じったトゥラシーの蜜香を運ぶ風がその聖仙たちの鼻孔に入り込むと、無相のブラフマン理解に執していた彼らの身と心にさえ揺さぶりが起こった。

Synonyms

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन

• aravinda-nayanasya: of the lotus-eyed (Lord)
• aravinda-nayanasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aravinda + nayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (aravinda-nayana = ‘lotus-eye’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• padāravinda-kiñjalka-miśra-tulasī-makaranda-vāyuḥ: the breeze carrying tulasī-nectar mixed with pollen from the lotus-feet
• padāravinda-kiñjalka-miśra-tulasī-makaranda-vāyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada-aravinda + kiñjalka + miśra + tulasī + makaranda + vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (wind bearing tulasī-fragrance mixed with pollen/nectar of the Lord’s lotus-feet), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• antar-gataḥ: having entered within
• antar-gataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antar + gata (कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (antar-gata = ‘gone inside’), भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP of √gam), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifying ‘vāyuḥ’

• sva-vivareṇa: through its own aperture
• sva-vivareṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + vivara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘through its own opening’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• cakāra: made/caused
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• saṅkṣobham: agitation/disturbance
• saṅkṣobham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkṣobha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• akṣara-juṣām: of those devoted to the imperishable (brahma-jñānins)
• akṣara-juṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣara + juṣ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक juṣ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘those who relish the imperishable/akṣara’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• citta-tanvoḥ: of the two subtle-bodied (beings)
• citta-tanvoḥ: Adhikaraṇa/Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (अधिकरण/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citta + tanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘whose bodies are mind/mental’ i.e., subtle-bodied), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी, द्विवचन (tanū dual)

Purport

It appears from this verse that the four Kumāras were impersonalists or protagonists of the philosophy of monism, becoming one with the Lord. But as soon as they saw the Lord’s features, their minds changed. In other words, the impersonalist who feels transcendental pleasure in striving to become one with the Lord is defeated when he sees the beautiful transcendental features of the Lord. Because of the fragrance of His lotus feet, carried by the air and mixed with the aroma of tulasī, their minds changed; instead of becoming one with the Supreme Lord, they thought it wise to be devotees. Becoming a servitor of the lotus feet of the Lord is better than becoming one with the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Viṣṇu (Nārāyaṇa)
• The four Kumāras (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana, Sanat-kumāra)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of tulasī and the Lord’s lotus feet?

This verse says that the fragrance of tulasī and the pollen from the Lord’s lotus feet can spiritually overwhelm and transform the heart, stirring even highly realized souls.

Why were the four Kumāras affected if they were worshipers of the imperishable Brahman?

Because contact with the personal Lord’s devotional atmosphere (tulasī-scented breeze from His lotus feet) awakened bhakti, which surpasses dry impersonal absorption.

Practical application: how can a devotee use this teaching in modern life?

Keep tulasī and the Lord’s worship central—associate with devotional practices (kīrtana, pūjā, sacred fragrance/offerings) that soften the heart beyond mere intellectual spirituality.