Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 9

The Lord in the Heart and the Discipline of Yoga-Bhakti

Devanagari script

प्रसन्नवक्त्रं नलिनायतेक्षणं कदम्बकिञ्जल्कपिशङ्गवाससम् । लसन्महारत्नहिरण्मयाङ्गदं स्फुरन्महारत्नकिरीटकुण्डलम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

prasanna-vaktraṁ nalināyatekṣaṇaṁ kadamba-kiñjalka-piśaṅga-vāsasam lasan-mahā-ratna-hiraṇmayāṅgadaṁ sphuran-mahā-ratna-kirīṭa-kuṇḍalam

Translation

அவரது முகம் ஆனந்தப் பிரசன்னத்தால் ஒளிர்கிறது; கண்கள் தாமரை இதழ்களைப் போல விரிந்தவை. கடம்ப மலரின் குங்கும நிறம் போன்ற பீதாம்பரம் அணிந்து, ரத்தினம் பதித்த பொன்னாபரணங்களால் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்டு, ரத்தினமய கிரீடமும் குண்டலங்களும் பிரகாசிக்கின்றன.

Synonyms

• prasanna-vaktram: having a serene face
• prasanna-vaktram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (कृदन्त/विशेषण) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); कर्मधारय-समासः (विशेषण-विशेष्य)

• nalina-āyata-īkṣaṇam: with lotus-like elongated eyes
• nalina-āyata-īkṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nalina (प्रातिपदिक) + āyata (कृदन्त/विशेषण) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (nalina-sadṛśa/—-āyata) + विशेषणसमुच्चयः

• kadamba-kiñjalka-piśaṅga-vāsasam: wearing garments yellowish like kadamba pollen
• kadamba-kiñjalka-piśaṅga-vāsasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kadamba (प्रातिपदिक) + kiñjalka (प्रातिपदिक) + piśaṅga (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; बहु-तत्पुरुष-समासः (कदम्ब-किñjalka-सदृश-पीशङ्गं वासः यस्य)

• lasat-mahā-ratna-hiraṇmaya-aṅgadam: with shining armlets of gold set with great gems
• lasat-mahā-ratna-hiraṇmaya-aṅgadam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lasat (कृदन्त, √las लस्) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + hiraṇmaya (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण) + aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; कृदन्त-पूर्वपद-तत्पुरुषः (लसत्) + तत्पुरुषसमासः (महद्रत्न-हिरण्मयम् अङ्गदम्)

• sphurat-mahā-ratna-kirīṭa-kuṇḍalam: with glittering gem-studded crown and earrings
• sphurat-mahā-ratna-kirīṭa-kuṇḍalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sphurat (कृदन्त, √sphur स्फुर्) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + kirīṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; कृदन्त-पूर्वपदः; kirīṭa-kuṇḍala इति द्वन्द्वः (समाहार-द्वन्द्वः) + महा-रत्न-तत्पुरुषः

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (The Supreme Lord)
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about meditating on the form of the Lord in Canto 2?

This verse guides meditation by describing the Lord’s auspicious features—serene face, lotus-like eyes, yellow garments, and jewel-studded ornaments—so the mind can steadily contemplate Him with devotion.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the Lord’s ornaments and clothing to Parīkṣit Mahārāja?

He was teaching Parīkṣit a practical method of bhakti—dhyāna on the Lord’s beautiful, auspicious form—so that remembrance becomes natural and the heart becomes absorbed in Bhagavān.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life for spiritual focus?

Use the verse as a guided visualization in daily japa or prayer: calmly picture the Lord’s serene face and lotus eyes, letting that sacred image replace anxiety and distraction with devotional remembrance.