Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 29

Ūṣā-Haraṇa, Bāṇāsura’s Pride, and Aniruddha’s Capture

Prelude to Hari–Śaṅkara Conflict

Devanagari script

कामात्मजं तं भुवनैकसुन्दरं श्यामं पिशङ्गाम्बरमम्बुजेक्षणम् । बृहद्भ‍ुजं कुण्डलकुन्तलत्विषा स्मितावलोकेन च मण्डिताननम् ॥ २९ ॥ दीव्यन्तमक्षै: प्रिययाभिनृम्णया तदङ्गसङ्गस्तनकुङ्कुमस्रजम् । बाह्वोर्दधानं मधुमल्लिकाश्रितां तस्याग्र आसीनमवेक्ष्य विस्मित: ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

kāmātmajaṁ taṁ bhuvanaika-sundaraṁ śyāmaṁ piśaṅgāmbaram ambujekṣaṇam bṛhad-bhujaṁ kuṇḍala-kuntala-tviṣā smitāvalokena ca maṇḍitānanam

Translation

Nakita ni Bāṇāsura sa harap niya ang tila anak ni Kāma—ang pinakamarikit sa daigdig—may kutis na bughaw-itim, nakadamit ng dilaw, may matang gaya ng lotus, at may malalakas na bisig. Ang kaniyang mukha’y pinalamutian ng ningning ng hikaw at buhok, at ng mga titig na may banayad na ngiti.

Synonyms

• kāma-ātmajam: the son of Kāma (Pradyumna)
• kāma-ātmajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of Kāma, the son’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• bhuvana-eka-sundaram: the most beautiful in the world
• bhuvana-eka-sundaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhuvana (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक) + sundara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘in the world, the one (most) beautiful’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śyāmam: dark-complexioned
• śyāmam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• piśaṅga-āmbaram: wearing yellowish garments
• piśaṅga-āmbaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: piśaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: ‘having tawny/yellow garments’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ambuja-īkṣaṇam: lotus-eyed
• ambuja-īkṣaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ambuja (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: ‘whose eyes are like lotuses’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• bṛhat-bhujam: broad-armed
• bṛhat-bhujam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: ‘having great arms’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kuṇḍala-kuntala-tviṣā: by the radiance of earrings and curls
• kuṇḍala-kuntala-tviṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक) + kuntala (प्रातिपदिक) + tviṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (instrumental sense: ‘by the splendor of earrings and hair’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (tviṣ), तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• smita-avalokena: with a smiling glance
• smita-avalokena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smita (प्रातिपदिक) + avalokana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘smiling glance’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• maṇḍita-ānanam: with an adorned face
• maṇḍita-ānanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: ‘whose face is adorned’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Purport

Bāṇāsura was amazed at Aniruddha’s boldness: the prince was calmly sitting in the young girl’s quarters, playing with Bāṇa’s supposedly unmarried daughter! In the context of the strict Vedic culture, this was an unbelievable thing to witness.

Characters & Entities

• Aniruddha
• Uṣā
• Kāmadeva

FAQs

Who is called the 'son of Cupid' (Kāmātmaja) in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.62?

In this verse, 'Kāmātmaja' refers to Aniruddha, famed for beauty that resembles and surpasses Cupid’s charm.

Why does the Bhagavatam describe Aniruddha with lotus eyes and yellow garments?

These are classic markers of divine, auspicious beauty in Vaiṣṇava literature—signifying purity (lotus eyes) and sacred splendor (yellow garments).

Practical application: what can a devotee learn from this meditation on divine beauty?

The verse trains the mind to contemplate sacred qualities and form, helping replace worldly fixation with remembrance of the Lord’s divine presence and His devotees.