Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

सञ्चिन्तयेद्भगवतश्चरणारविन्दं वज्राङ्कुशध्वजसरोरुहलाञ्छनाढ्यम् । उत्तुङ्गरक्तविलसन्नखचक्रवाल- ज्योत्‍स्‍नाभिराहतमहद्‍धृदयान्धकारम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

sañcintayed bhagavataś caraṇāravindaṁ vajrāṅkuśa-dhvaja-saroruha-lāñchanāḍhyam uttuṅga-rakta-vilasan-nakha-cakravāla- jyotsnābhir āhata-mahad-dhṛdayāndhakāram

Translation

奉献者应先专注于主的莲花足，其上具金刚、钩、旗与莲花等圣相。那高起的赤红足甲放出如月轮般的光辉，驱散心中浓重的幽暗。

Synonyms

• सञ्चिन्तयेत्: should meditate
• सञ्चिन्तयेत्: विधेय-क्रिया (Vidhi-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should meditate/think upon’

• भगवतः: of the Lord
• भगवतः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• चरण-अरविन्दम्: the lotus-feet
• चरण-अरविन्दम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक) + अरविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय-प्रायः: ‘अरविन्द-सदृशं चरणम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• वज्र-अङ्कुश-ध्वज-सरोरुह-लाञ्छन-आढ्यम्: adorned with (auspicious) marks like thunderbolt etc.
• वज्र-अङ्कुश-ध्वज-सरोरुह-लाञ्छन-आढ्यम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र + अङ्कुश + ध्वज + सरोरुह + लाञ्छन + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वज्रादि-लाञ्छनैः आढ्यम्’ = endowed with marks like thunderbolt, goad, banner, lotus

• उत्तुङ्ग-रक्त-विलसत्-नख-चक्रवाल-ज्योत्स्नाभिः: by the radiances from the circle of shining, lofty red nails
• उत्तुङ्ग-रक्त-विलसत्-नख-चक्रवाल-ज्योत्स्नाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तुङ्ग + रक्त + विलसत् (कृदन्त, √लस्) + नख + चक्रवाल + ज्योत्स्ना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाससमूह; ‘नख-चक्रवाल-ज्योत्स्ना’ = moonlight-like radiance from the circle/row of nails; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• आहत: struck; dispelled
• आहत: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + √हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘struck/dispelled’

• महत्: great
• महत्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘great’ (qualifying darkness/heart)

• हृदय-अन्धकारम्: the darkness of the heart
• हृदय-अन्धकारम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्धकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘हृदयस्य अन्धकारम्’

Purport

The Māyāvādī says that because one is unable to fix his mind on the impersonal existence of the Absolute Truth, one can imagine any form he likes and fix his mind on that imaginary form; but such a process is not recommended here. Imagination is always imagination and results only in further imagination.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kapila
• Bhagavan (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about meditating on the Lord’s lotus feet?

This verse teaches that one should meditate on Bhagavan’s lotus feet, marked with auspicious symbols, because their divine radiance dispels the deep darkness of ignorance in the heart.

Why does Lord Kapila describe the marks and nails of the Lord’s feet in such detail?

Kapila gives a concrete meditation form (dhyāna) for bhakti-yoga—focusing the mind on the Lord’s auspicious features so devotion becomes steady and inner ignorance is removed.

Practical application of this meditation in modern life?

Daily, spend a few minutes visualizing and remembering the Lord’s lotus feet with reverence (or chanting while contemplating them); use that focus to quiet anxiety and replace distracting thoughts with devotion and clarity.