Shloka 49

Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

Devanagari script

आङ्‍‍घ्रिमस्तकमापूर्णास्तुलसीनवदामभि: । कोमलै: सर्वगात्रेषु भूरिपुण्यवदर्पितै: ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

āṅghri-mastakam āpūrṇās tulasī-nava-dāmabhiḥ komalaiḥ sarva-gātreṣu bhūri-puṇyavad-arpitaiḥ

Translation

അവരുടെ പാദങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് ശിരസ്സുവരെ ശരീരത്തിന്റെ എല്ലാ ഭാഗങ്ങളും কোমലമായ പുതിയ തുളസിയിലമാലകളാൽ പൂർണ്ണമായി അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു; ശ്രവണ-കീർത്തനാദി പരമ പുണ്യകർമ്മങ്ങളിൽ ലീനമായ ഭക്തർ ഭഗവാന്റെ ആരാധനയ്ക്ക് അർപ്പിച്ചതായിരുന്നു അവ।

Synonyms

• आङ्घ्रि-मस्तकम्: the head (crown) of the feet; from feet to head
• आङ्घ्रि-मस्तकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आङ्घ्रेः मस्तकम्)

• आपूर्णाः: filled, covered
• आपूर्णाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ√पॄ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → आपूर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोगः; ‘filled/covered’

• तुलसी-नव-दामभिः: with fresh garlands of tulasī
• तुलसी-नव-दामभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक) + नव (प्रातिपदिक) + दामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः (तुलस्याः नवानि दामानि)

• कोमलैः: with soft (ones)
• कोमलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (दामभिः)

• सर्व-गात्रेषु: on all limbs
• सर्व-गात्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि गात्राणि)

• भूरि-पुण्यवत्-अर्पितैः: with (garlands) offered by the very pious
• भूरि-पुण्यवत्-अर्पितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आ√र्प् (धातु) + क्त → अर्पित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः (भूरि-पुण्यवत् = ‘very meritorious’; पुण्यवता अर्पितैः)

Purport

The word bhūri-puṇyavad-arpitaiḥ is significant in this verse. These forms of Viṣṇu were worshiped by those who had performed pious activities ( sukṛtibhiḥ ) for many births and who were constantly engaged in devotional service ( śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ ). Bhakti, devotional service, is the engagement of those who have performed highly developed pious activities. The accumulation of pious activities has already been mentioned elsewhere in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.12.11), where Śukadeva Gosvāmī says:

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Brahmā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the significance of tulasī garlands?

This verse portrays tulasī garlands as sacred devotional offerings that beautify the Lord and His divine associates, symbolizing pure bhakti and great spiritual merit.

Why is tulasī described as being placed on all the limbs from feet to head?

Śukadeva emphasizes total adornment to convey the completeness of devotional offering and the all-attractive, fully divine appearance seen during Kṛṣṇa’s līlā in this chapter.

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

Offer simple, sincere devotion—such as honoring tulasī, offering flowers or prayers, and remembering Kṛṣṇa—making one’s worship heartfelt rather than merely ritualistic.