Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

ऊरू सुपर्णभुजयोरधिशोभमानाव्- ओजोनिधी अतसिकाकुसुमावभासौ । व्यालम्बिपीतवरवाससि वर्तमान काञ्चीकलापपरिरम्भि नितम्बबिम्बम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

ūrū suparṇa-bhujayor adhi śobhamānāv ojo-nidhī atasikā-kusumāvabhāsau vyālambi-pīta-vara-vāsasi vartamāna- kāñcī-kalāpa-parirambhi nitamba-bimbam

Translation

继而，瑜伽行者当观想主的双腿与大腿——一切威能之宝藏，色泽如亚麻花般青白，且当主乘于迦楼罗肩上时更显庄严优美。随后再观想主圆满的胯臀，被腰带环抱，腰带安住于垂至踝间的精妙黄绢之上。

Synonyms

• ऊरू: the two thighs
• ऊरू: कर्म (Karma/Object of meditation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• सुपर्ण-भुजयॊः: upon Garuḍa’s two arms
• सुपर्ण-भुजयॊः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुपर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी, द्विवचन; here locative sense with adhi: ‘upon the two arms of Garuḍa (as a seat/support)’

• अधि: upon
• अधि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Relation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधि (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय, उपसर्ग/पूर्वसर्ग-प्रयोगः; here preposition ‘upon/over’ governing locative

• शोभमानौ: shining; beautiful
• शोभमानौ: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √शुभ्/√शोभ् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), द्विवचन; qualifying ūrū

• ओजः-निधी: treasuries of strength
• ओजः-निधी: सम्बोधन/विशेष्य-समनाधिकरण (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; appositional epithet of the thighs ‘treasuries of vigor’

• अतसी-कुसुम-अवभासौ: having the sheen of flax blossoms
• अतसी-कुसुम-अवभासौ: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतसी (प्रातिपदिक) + कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक) + अवभास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘having the luster of flax-flowers’

• व्यालम्बि-पीत-वर-वाससि: in the excellent yellow garment hanging down
• व्यालम्बि-पीत-वर-वाससि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यालम्बिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + पीत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाससमूह; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; ‘in the excellent yellow garment hanging down’

• वर्तमानम्: being situated; present
• वर्तमानम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वृत् (धातु)
• Form: शानच्/मान-प्रत्यय (present middle participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying nitamba-bimbam

• काञ्ची-कलाप-परिरम्भि: encircled by a girdle-ornament cluster
• काञ्ची-कलाप-परिरम्भि: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्ची (प्रातिपदिक) + कलाप (प्रातिपदिक) + परिरम्भिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘embraced/encircled by a cluster of girdles’

• नितम्ब-बिम्बम्: the rounded form of the hips
• नितम्ब-बिम्बम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नितम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + बिम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; object to be contemplated

Purport

The Personality of Godhead is the reservoir of all strength, and His strength rests on the thighs of His transcendental body. His whole body is full of opulences: all riches, all strength, all fame, all beauty, all knowledge and all renunciation. The yogī is advised to meditate upon the transcendental form of the Lord, beginning from the soles of the feet and then gradually rising to the knees, to the thighs, and finally arriving at the face. The system of meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead begins from His feet.

Characters & Entities

• Kapila-deva
• Devahūti
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about meditating on Lord Vishnu’s form in Canto 3?

In Canto 3, Chapter 28, Kapila teaches Devahūti a step-by-step meditation on the Lord’s transcendental body; this verse focuses on contemplating His thighs, garments, and jeweled belt as part of steady devotional dhyāna.

Why does Kapila describe the Lord’s ornaments and garments to Devahūti?

Kapila gives Devahūti a concrete, sacred visualization so the mind can rest on the Lord’s beautiful features, become purified, and mature from concentration into loving devotion.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam meditation teaching in modern life?

Set aside a few minutes daily to visualize the Lord’s form as described, gently returning the mind when it wanders; this replaces anxiety-driven imagery with devotional remembrance and steadiness.