Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 50

Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction

Devanagari script

पद्‌भ्यां नखमणिश्रेण्या विलसद्‌भ्यां समर्चताम् । हृत्पद्मकर्णिकाधिष्ण्यमाक्रम्यात्मन्यवस्थितम् ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

padbhyāṁ nakha-maṇi-śreṇyā vilasadbhyāṁ samarcatām hṛt-padma-karṇikā-dhiṣṇyam ākramyātmany avasthitam

Translation

โยคีผู้แท้เพ่งฌานถึงรูปทิพย์ของพระผู้เป็นเจ้า ผู้ประทับอยู่บนเกสรกลางดอกบัวแห่งดวงใจ และเล็บที่พระบาทดุจดอกบัวของพระองค์ส่องประกายดุจอัญมณี

Synonyms

• पद्भ्याम्: with (his) two feet
• पद्भ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• नख-मणि-श्रेण्या: with the row of jewel-like toenails
• नख-मणि-श्रेण्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक) + मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नखानां मणीनां श्रेणी)

• विलसद्भ्याम्: shining (both)
• विलसद्भ्याम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलसत् (कृदन्त; √लस् धातु, शतृ with उपसर्ग वि-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्य-विशेषण), तृतीया विभक्ति, द्विवचन; वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ)

• समर्चताम्: let (them) worship
• समर्चताम्: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative/benedictive sense), मध्यमपुरुष?; रूपं वस्तुतः ‘समर्चताम्’ = लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन/बहुवचन (आज्ञार्थे) ‘let them worship’ (परस्मैपद)

• हृत्-पद्म-कर्णिका-अधिष्ण्यम्: the seat on the whorl of the heart-lotus
• हृत्-पद्म-कर्णिका-अधिष्ण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत्/हृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिष्ण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमूहः ‘हृदि पद्मस्य कर्णिकायाम् अधिष्ण्यम्’ (heart-lotus-whorl-seat)

• आक्रम्य: having stepped/entered
• आक्रम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• आत्मनि: in oneself
• आत्मनि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवस्थितम्: situated, established
• अवस्थितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + स्था (धातु) → अवस्थित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त ‘स्थित’

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord entering the devotee’s heart lotus?

This verse describes that through sincere worship, the Lord becomes established within the devotee—seated on the heart-lotus—indicating intimate realization of the Lord’s presence.

Why does Bhagavatam describe the Lord’s nails as shining like jewels?

The imagery emphasizes the transcendental beauty of the Lord’s lotus feet and supports devotional meditation (smaraṇa) by giving the mind a sacred, personal form to contemplate.

Practical application of this heart-lotus meditation in modern life?

Regularly worship and remember the Lord’s lotus feet through mantra, prayer, and focused contemplation; this steadies the mind and brings inner clarity by centering life on devotion.