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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 5 · The Creative Impetus · 26 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.
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Canto 5 · Chapter 25: The Glories of Lord Ananta
5.25.35.25.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.25.4

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.25.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यस्याङ्‌घ्रिकमलयुगलारुणविशदनखमणिषण्डमण्डलेष्वहिपतय: सह सात्वतर्षभैरेकान्तभक्तियोगेनावनमन्त: स्ववदनानि परिस्फुरत्कुण्डलप्रभामण्डितगण्डस्थलान्यतिमनोहराणि प्रमुदितमनस: खलु विलोकयन्ति ॥ ४ ॥

yasyāṅghri-kamala-yugalāruṇa-viśada-nakha-maṇi-ṣaṇḍa-maṇḍaleṣv ahi-patayaḥ saha sātvatarṣabhair ekānta-bhakti-yogenāvanamantaḥ sva-vadanāni parisphurat-kuṇḍala-prabhā-maṇḍita-gaṇḍa-sthalāny ati-manoharāṇi pramudita-manasaḥ khalu vilokayanti.

Translation

The pink, transparent toenails on the Lord’s lotus feet are exactly like valuable gems polished to a mirror finish. When the unalloyed devotees and the leaders of the snakes offer their obeisances to Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa with great devotion, they become very joyful upon seeing their own beautiful faces reflected in His toenails. Their cheeks are decorated with glittering earrings, and the beauty of their faces is extremely pleasing to see.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Brings Joy at the Lord’s Feet

  1. 1

    The pink, transparent toenails of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa resemble valuable gems polished to a mirror finish.

  2. 2

    Unalloyed devotees and leaders of the snakes offer obeisances to Him with great devotion.

  3. 3

    Seeing their beautiful faces reflected in His toenails, they become very joyful. Their cheeks are decorated with glittering earrings.

How it feels

Smallness → Awe and reverence. A vast cosmos changes the reader's perspective.

Chapters 15–25 of Canto 5: The cosmic regions and divine worship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 25: The Glories of Lord Ananta

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Because Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa is an expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, many devotees offer Him prayers, and in the planetary system of Pātāla, all the suras, asuras, Gandharvas, Vidyādharas and learned sages offer Him their respectful obeisances. The Lord talks with them in a sweet voice.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yasyaof whom
  2. aṅghri-kamalaof lotus feet
  3. yugalaof the pair
  4. aruṇa-viśadabrilliant pink
  5. nakhaof the nails
  6. maṇi-ṣaṇḍalike gems
  7. maṇḍaleṣuon the round surfaces
  8. ahi-patayaḥthe leaders of the snakes
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.25

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotees”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I bring greater devotion to offering respect to the Lord?

Practice

Offer one heartfelt obeisance to Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa today, remembering His lotus feet.

Live this todayDevotion Brings Joy at the Lord’s FeetThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

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

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 5.25.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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