Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

यच्छ्रीनिकेतमलिभि: परिसेव्यमानं भूत्या स्वया कुटिलकुन्तलवृन्दजुष्टम् । मीनद्वयाश्रयमधिक्षिपदब्जनेत्रं ध्यायेन्मनोमयमतन्द्रित उल्लसद्भ्रु ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

yac chrī-niketam alibhiḥ parisevyamānaṁ bhūtyā svayā kuṭila-kuntala-vṛnda-juṣṭam mīna-dvayāśrayam adhikṣipad abja-netraṁ dhyāyen manomayam atandrita ullasad-bhru

Translation

ਫਿਰ ਯੋਗੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੇ ਉਸ ਅਤਿ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਮੁਖ ਦਾ ਧਿਆਨ ਕਰੇ, ਜੋ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਦਾ ਨਿਵਾਸ ਹੈ, ਭੌਰਿਆਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਘਿਰ ਕੇ ਸੇਵਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਘੁੰਗਰਾਲੇ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸੁਸ਼ੋਭਿਤ ਹੈ। ਕਮਲ ਵਰਗੀਆਂ ਅੱਖਾਂ ਤੇ ਨੱਚਦੀਆਂ ਭੌਂਹਾਂ ਵਾਲੀ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਛਬਿ ਐਸੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਭੌਰਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਰਿਆ ਕਮਲ ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਤੈਰਦੀਆਂ ਦੋ ਮੱਛੀਆਂ ਵੀ ਲੱਜਿਤ ਹੋ ਜਾਣ।

Synonyms

• yat: which (that)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• śrī-niketam: abode of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• śrī-niketam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + niketa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्रियाः निकेतम्)

• alibhiḥ: by bees
• alibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• parisevyamānam: being attended/served
• parisevyamānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√sev (सेव् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमाने कृदन्तः (शानच्/मान), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying यत्/श्रीनिकेतम्

• bhūtyā: by prosperity/splendor
• bhūtyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• svayā: by its own
• svayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; reflexive/possessive adjective qualifying भूत्या

• kuṭila-kuntala-vṛnda-juṣṭam: adorned with a cluster of curly locks
• kuṭila-kuntala-vṛnda-juṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuṭila + kuntala + vṛnda + √juṣ (जुष् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कुटिलकुन्तलानां वृन्देन जुष्टम् = adorned/inhabited by a mass of curly locks)

• mīna-dvaya-āśrayam: having the pair of fish as its support (ear-ornament)
• mīna-dvaya-āśrayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mīna + dvaya + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मीनद्वयस्य आश्रयम्)

• adhikṣipat: casting (its glance)
• adhikṣipat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhi-√kṣip (क्षिप् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमाने कृदन्तः (शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying abja-netram; sense: ‘casting/throwing upon’

• abja-netram: lotus-like eye
• abja-netram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abja + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अब्जम् इव नेत्रम्)

• dhyāyet: should meditate
• dhyāyet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (ध्यै धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• manomayam: formed in the mind; mental
• manomayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manas + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मनसा मयम्/मनःमयम्)

• atandritaḥ: unwearied; vigilant
• atandritaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-tandrita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; negated adjective; qualifies implied meditator (साधकः)

• ullasad-bhru: with shining eyebrows
• ullasad-bhru: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ullasat (√las धातु) + bhru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (as bahuvrīhi-like epithet used adjectivally for the Lord); कर्मधारयः (उल्लसद् भ्रू यस्य)

Purport

One important statement here is dhyāyen manomayam. Manomayam is not imagination. Impersonalists think that the yogī can imagine any form he likes, but, as stated here, the yogī must meditate upon the form of the Lord which is experienced by devotees. Devotees never imagine a form of the Lord. They are not satisfied by something imaginary. The Lord has different eternal forms; each devotee likes a particular form and thus engages himself in the service of the Lord by worshiping that form. The Lord’s form is depicted in different ways according to scriptures. As already discussed, there are eight kinds of representations of the original form of the Lord. These representations can be produced by the use of clay, stone, wood, paint, sand, etc., depending upon the resources of the devotee.

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahuti
• Lakshmi (Shri)

FAQs

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

This verse instructs focused, non-lazy meditation on the Lord’s beautiful personal features—His lotus face, lotus eyes, shining brows, and divine adornment—showing that contemplation of Bhagavān’s form is a direct limb of bhakti.

Why did Kapila Muni describe the Lord’s face, eyes, and hair in such poetic detail to Devahuti?

Kapila is guiding Devahuti in dhyāna as a practical method of bhakti: vivid, affectionate visualization of the Lord’s features steadies the mind and draws it toward loving remembrance instead of distraction.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam meditation teaching in modern life?

Set aside a short daily time to calmly visualize the Lord’s lotus face and eyes (or gaze at a deity/painting), and keep the mind attentive (atandrita) by returning gently to the form whenever it wanders.