Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 14

Kapila Describes Bhakti-Saturated Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga and Meditation on the Lord’s Form

Devanagari script

लसत्पङ्कजकिञ्जल्कपीतकौशेयवाससम् । श्रीवत्सवक्षसं भ्राजत्कौस्तुभामुक्तकन्धरम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

lasat-paṅkaja-kiñjalka- pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam śrīvatsa-vakṣasaṁ bhrājat kaustubhāmukta-kandharam

Translation

त्यांच्या कटिवर कमळकिंजल्कासारखे झळाळणारे पिवळे कौशेय वस्त्र शोभते; वक्षस्थळी श्रीवत्सचिन्ह आहे, आणि कंठावर तेजस्वी कौस्तुभमणी लटकतो।

Synonyms

• लसत्-पङ्कज-किञ्जल्क-पीत-कौशेय-वाससम्: wearing yellow silk garments (shining like lotus filaments)
• लसत्-पङ्कज-किञ्जल्क-पीत-कौशेय-वाससम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of meditation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लसत् (√लस् धातु, शतृ/कृदन्त) + पङ्कज (प्रातिपदिक) + किञ्जल्क (प्रातिपदिक) + पीत (√पा/√पि?; here adjective ‘yellow’, प्रातिपदिक) + कौशेय (प्रातिपदिक) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-समुच्चय; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणं (ध्येयस्य) ‘having yellow silk garments like shining lotus-filaments’

• श्रीवत्स-वक्षसम्: with the Śrīvatsa mark on the chest
• श्रीवत्स-वक्षसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of meditation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीवत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘having the Śrīvatsa-mark on the chest’

• भ्राजत्: shining, resplendent
• भ्राजत्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √भ्राज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं (कन्धरम्/समस्त-ध्येयम्) ‘shining’

• कौस्तुभ-अमुक्त-कन्धरम्: with the Kaustubha gem adorning the neck
• कौस्तुभ-अमुक्त-कन्धरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of meditation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौस्तुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + अमुक्त (√मुच् धातु, क्त/कृदन्त; ‘worn/put on’) + कन्धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘whose neck bears the Kaustubha (gem)’

Purport

The exact color of the garment of the Supreme Lord is described as saffron-yellow, just like the pollen of a lotus flower. The Kaustubha gem hanging on His chest is also described. His neck is beautifully decorated with jewels and pearls. The Lord is full in six opulences, one of which is wealth. He is very richly dressed with valuable jewels which are not visible within this material world.

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Supreme Lord (Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about meditating on Lord Vishnu’s form in Canto 3?

In Canto 3, Kapila teaches that meditation becomes steady by contemplating the Lord’s personal form and divine features—such as His yellow silk garments, Śrīvatsa mark, and Kaustubha jewel—as aids for focused devotion.

Why does Kapila describe the Lord’s ornaments like the Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha?

Kapila gives a concrete, sacred visualization for dhyāna: these distinctive signs identify the Supreme Lord and help the devotee fix the mind on Bhagavān rather than on abstract ideas.

Practical application of this verse’s meditation instruction in modern life?

Set aside a short daily practice to visualize the Lord’s form with devotion—using a deity image or sacred art—so the mind learns to return from distraction to remembrance (smaraṇa) and reverence.