Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 37

Soma Pacifies the Pracetās; Dakṣa’s Haṁsa-guhya Prayers; Hari Grants Creative Power

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इति स्तुत: संस्तुवत: स तस्मिन्नघमर्षणे । प्रादुरासीत्कुरुश्रेष्ठ भगवान् भक्तवत्सल: ॥ ३५ ॥ कृतपाद: सुपर्णांसे प्रलम्बाष्टमहाभुज: । चक्रशङ्खासिचर्मेषुधनु:पाशगदाधर: ॥ ३६ ॥ पीतवासा घनश्याम: प्रसन्नवदनेक्षण: । वनमालानिवीताङ्गो लसच्छ्रीवत्सकौस्तुभ: ॥ ३७ ॥ महाकिरीटकटक: स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डल: । काञ्‍च्यङ्गुलीयवलयनूपुराङ्गदभूषित: ॥ ३८ ॥ त्रैलोक्यमोहनं रूपं बिभ्रत् त्रिभुवनेश्वर: । वृतो नारदनन्दाद्यै: पार्षदै: सुरयूथपै: । स्तूयमानोऽनुगायद्भ‍ि: सिद्धगन्धर्वचारणै: ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca iti stutaḥ saṁstuvataḥ sa tasminn aghamarṣaṇe prādurāsīt kuru-śreṣṭha bhagavān bhakta-vatsalaḥ

Translation

祂身着黄衣，体色深蓝如密云，面目与双眼喜悦安详；身披林花长鬘，胸前闪耀着室利跋蹉圣印与考斯图巴宝珠。

Synonyms

• pīta-vāsāḥ: wearing yellow garments
• pīta-vāsāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta (√pā/√pī-धातु, क्त कृदन्त ‘yellow’) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—पीतं वासो यस्य (wearing yellow garments)

• ghana-śyāmaḥ: cloud-dark
• ghana-śyāmaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghana (प्रातिपदिक) + śyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—घन इव श्यामः (dark like a cloud)

• prasanna-vadana-īkṣaṇaḥ: with a serene face and eyes
• prasanna-vadana-īkṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—प्रसन्ने वदने ईक्षणे यस्य (with cheerful face and eyes)

• vana-mālā-nivīta-aṅgaḥ: adorned with a forest garland
• vana-mālā-nivīta-aṅgaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक) + nivīta (√vī-धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—वनमालया निवीतानि अङ्गानि यस्य (whose limbs are adorned/encircled by a forest-garland)

• lasat-śrīvatsa-kaustubhaḥ: with the shining Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha
• lasat-śrīvatsa-kaustubhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lasat (√las-धातु, शतृ कृदन्त) + śrīvatsa (प्रातिपदिक) + kaustubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—लसन्तौ श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभौ यस्य (having the shining Śrīvatsa mark and Kaustubha gem)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Bhagavān (Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the appearance of Lord Vishnu?

This verse describes Bhagavān as raincloud-dark, dressed in yellow garments, with a peaceful face and joyful eyes, adorned with a forest garland and the shining Śrīvatsa mark and Kaustubha jewel.

Why is Lord Vishnu described as wearing yellow garments and having a dark complexion?

Śukadeva depicts the Lord’s transcendental beauty through traditional identifiers of Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa—pītāmbara (yellow cloth) and ghanaśyāma (raincloud hue)—to highlight His auspicious, captivating form revealed to devotees.

Practical application of meditating on Bhagavan’s form in modern life?

Contemplating the Lord’s serene, benevolent form (as described here) steadies the mind, strengthens devotion, and replaces anxiety with remembrance and reverence.