Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 5
The Glories of Lord Ananta (Śeṣa/Saṅkarṣaṇa) and the Cosmic Foundation Beneath Pātāla
यस्यैव हि नागराजकुमार्य आशिष आशासानाश्चार्वङ्गवलयविलसितविशद विपुलधवलसुभगरुचिरभुजरजतस्तम्भेष्वगुरुचन्दनकुङ्कुमपङ्कानुलेपेनावलिम्पमानास्तदभिमर्शनोन्मथितहृदयमकरध्वजावेशरुचिरललितस्मितास्तदनुरागमदमुदितमद् विघूर्णितारुणकरुणावलोकनयनवदनारविन्दं सव्रीडं किल विलोकयन्ति ॥ ५ ॥
yasyaiva hi nāga-rāja-kumārya āśiṣa āśāsānāś cārv-aṅga-valaya-vilasita-viśada-vipula-dhavala-subhaga-rucira-bhuja-rajata-stambheṣv aguru-candana-kuṅkuma-paṅkānulepenāvalimpamānās tad-abhimarśanonmathita-hṛdaya-makara-dhvajāveśa-rucira-lalita-smitās tad-anurāgamada-mudita-mada-vighūrṇitāruṇa-karuṇāvaloka-nayana-vadanāravindaṁ savrīḍaṁ kila vilokayanti.
ನಾಗರಾಜರ ಕುಮಾರಿಯರು ಶುಭಾಶೀರ್ವಾದವನ್ನು ಬಯಸಿ, ಬಳೆಗಳಿಂದ ಅಲಂಕರಿತವಾದ, ದೀರ್ಘವೂ ಮನೋಹರವೂ ಆದ, ಬೆಳ್ಳಿಯ ಕಂಬಗಳಂತೆ ಬಿಳಿಯಾಗಿ ಹೊಳೆಯುವ ಪ್ರಭುವಿನ ಭುಜಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಅಗುರು, ಚಂದನ ಮತ್ತು ಕುಂಕುಮ ಲೇಪನವನ್ನು ಹಚ್ಚುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅವನ ಅಂಗಸ್ಪರ್ಶದಿಂದ ಅವರ ಹೃದಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಕರಧ್ವಜ (ಕಾಮದೇವ)ನ ಆವೇಶ ಜಾಗೃತವಾಗಿ, ಅವರು ಲಲಿತ ಮಧುರ ನಗುವಿನಿಂದ ಮಿನುಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅವರ ಮನಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಅರಿತ ಪ್ರಭು ಕರುಣಾಮಯ ಮೃದುವಾದ ನಗುವಿನಿಂದ ನೋಡುವನು; ಭಕ್ತಿಪ್ರೇಮದ ಆನಂದಮದದಿಂದ ಅವನ ಕೆಂಪಾದ ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳ ದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ತಿರುಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಆಗ ಅವರು ಲಜ್ಜೆಯಿಂದ ಅವನ ಕಮಲಮುಖವನ್ನು ನೋಟಹಾಕುತ್ತಾರೆ.
When males and females touch each other’s bodies, their lusty desires naturally awaken. It appears from this verse that there are similar sensations in spiritual bodies. Both Lord Ananta and the women giving Him pleasure had spiritual bodies. Thus all sensations originally exist in the spiritual body. This is confirmed in the Vedānta-sūtra: janmādy asya yataḥ. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has commented in this connection that the word ādi means ādi-rasa, the original lusty feeling, which is born from the Supreme. However, spiritual lust and material lust are as completely different as gold and iron. Only one who is very highly elevated in spiritual realization can understand the lusty feelings exchanged between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, or between Kṛṣṇa and the damsels of Vraja. Therefore, unless one is very experienced and advanced in spiritual realization, he is forbidden to discuss the lusty feelings of Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs. However, if one is a sincere and pure devotee, the material lust in his heart is completely vanquished as he discusses the lusty feelings between the gopīs and Kṛṣṇa, and he makes quick progress in spiritual life.
FAQs
It portrays Lord Ananta’s extraordinary divine beauty and majesty, describing how Nāga princesses, seeking his blessings, lovingly anoint his arms and shyly behold his lotus face with compassionate, reddish glances.
As an act of reverence and affectionate service while seeking his āśiṣ (blessings); the anointing expresses devotion and highlights Ananta’s transcendental form.
Approach the Divine with humility and sincere longing for blessings, and cultivate loving service (seva) that is respectful and pure—letting devotion, not ego, become the heart’s “anointment.”