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Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.30.28-32

बिभ्रच्चतुर्भुजं रूपं भ्राजिष्णु प्रभया स्वया ।

दिशो वितिमिरा: कुर्वन् विधूम इव पावक: ॥ २८ ॥

श्रीवत्साङ्कं घनश्यामं तप्तहाटकवर्चसम् ।

कौशेयाम्बरयुग्मेन परिवीतं सुमङ्गलम् ॥ २९ ॥

सुन्दरस्मितवक्त्राब्जं नीलकुन्तलमण्डितम् ।

पुण्डरीकाभिरामाक्षं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ ३० ॥

कटिसूत्रब्रह्मसूत्रकिरीटकटकाङ्गदै: ।

हारनूपुरमुद्राभि: कौस्तुभेन विराजितम् ॥ ३१ ॥

वनमालापरीताङ्गं मूर्तिमद्भ‍िर्निजायुधै: ।

कृत्वोरौ दक्षिणे पादमासीनं पङ्कजारुणम् ॥ ३२ ॥

bibhrac catur-bhujaṁ rūpaṁ

bhrājiṣṇu prabhayā svayā

diśo vitimirāḥ kurvan

vidhūma iva pāvakaḥ

śrīvatsāṅkaṁ ghana-śyāmaṁ

tapta-hāṭaka-varcasam

kauśeyāmbara-yugmena

parivītaṁ su-maṅgalam

sundara-smita-vaktrābjaṁ

nīla-kuntala-maṇḍitam

puṇḍarīkābhirāmākṣaṁ

sphuran makara-kuṇḍalam

kaṭi-sūtra-brahma-sūtra-

kirīṭa-kaṭakāṅgadaiḥ

hāra-nūpura-mudrābhiḥ

kaustubhena virājitam

vana-mālā-parītāṅgaṁ

mūrtimadbhir nijāyudhaiḥ

kṛtvorau dakṣiṇe pādam

āsīnaṁ paṅkajāruṇam

Translation

The Lord was exhibiting His brilliantly effulgent four-armed form, the radiance of which, just like a smokeless fire, dissipated the darkness in all directions. His complexion was the color of a dark blue cloud and His effulgence the color of molten gold, and His all-auspicious form bore the mark of Śrīvatsa. A beautiful smile graced His lotus face, locks of dark blue hair adorned His head, His lotus eyes were very attractive, and His shark-shaped earrings glittered. He wore a pair of silken garments, an ornamental belt, the sacred thread, bracelets and arm ornaments, along with a helmet, the Kaustubha jewel, necklaces, anklets and other royal emblems. Encircling His body were flower garlands and His personal weapons in their embodied forms. As He sat He held His left foot, with its lotus-red sole, upon His right thigh.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Reveals His All-Auspicious Form

  1. 1

    The Lord displayed His brilliantly effulgent four-armed form, dispelling darkness like a smokeless fire. His complexion was dark blue like a cloud, His effulgence resembled molten gold, and His form bore the mark of Śrīvatsa.

  2. 2

    His lotus face bore a beautiful smile, and His lotus eyes were very attractive. Dark blue hair, glittering shark-shaped earrings, silken garments, the Kaustubha jewel and royal ornaments adorned Him.

  3. 3

    Flower garlands and His personal weapons in their embodied forms encircled His body. He rested His left foot, with its lotus-red sole, upon His right thigh.

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.