mukhena lokārti-hara-smitena

mukhena lokārti-hara-smitena

parisphurat-kuṇḍala-maṇḍitena

śoṇāyitenādhara-bimba-bhāsā

pratyarhayantaṁ sunasena subhrvā

 

The Lord respected his servants by a face slightly smiling to destroy the devotees’ suffering due to separation, ornamented with bright earrings, red lips, graceful nose and with movement of one attractive eyebrow.

 

The Lord returns the devotees’ worship by worshipping them (pratyarhayantam) through showing his beautiful face. He repays the debt of the devotees’ service by this, since the devotees do not accept material gifts or liberation. His smile destroys the suffering of the devotees and also the suffering out of longing to see him. He shows one beautiful eyebrow (subhruvā). This indicates a confidential emotion of Kṛṣṇa. Those who receive such worship by the Lord are actually special devotees.

 

|| 3.8.28 ||

kadamba-kiñjalka-piśaṅga-vāsasā

svalaṅkṛtaṁ mekhalayā nitambe

hāreṇa cānanta-dhanena vatsa

śrīvatsa-vakṣaḥ-sthala-vallabhena

O Vidura! The Lord wore cloth the color of golden kadamba pollen around his waist and a belt. On his chest marked with the Śrīvatsa mark was a necklace of unlimited value. [235]

 

O Vidura (vatsa)! He had a necklace dear to the place on his chest having the Śrīvatsa mark.

 

|| 3.8.29 ||

parārdhya-keyūra-maṇi-praveka-

paryasta-dordaṇḍa-sahasra-śākham

avyakta-mūlaṁ bhuvanāṅghripendram

ahīndra-bhogair adhivīta-valśam

 

As a sandalwood tree is decorated with fragrant flowers and branches, the Lord’s body was decorated with valuable jewels and pearls. As the sandalwood tree spreads its branches everywhere, the Lord spreads his arms over the universe. As the tree’s root cannot be seen, the Lord origin cannot be understood. As the sandalwood tree is the king of trees, the Lord protects the world by his great power. As a sandalwood tree is covered with many snakes, so the Lord’s shoulders were touched by the hoods of Ananta.

 

Because his fame perfumes the whole universe, the Lord is compared to a sandalwood tree. He had thousands of arms which spread all over the universe (paryasta) like a thousand branches of a tree. His source cannot be traced out, since he is beginningless, just as sandalwood tree’s root cannot be traced out. Sa ātmā svāśrayāśrayaḥ: the Lord is his own shelter. (SB 2.10.9) The comparison with a tree is clear.  By one foot he protects the worlds (bhuvana aṅghri-pā) and has great power (indram). This refers to his control over the eka-pada-vibhuti, the extent of the material world. In terms of trees, the sandalwood tree is the king of trees (aṅghri-pa) in the world. The Lord has his shoulders touched (adhivīta) by the hoods or limbs of Śeṣa. Śruti says śatavalśo viroha: O tree with a hundred branches, grow! (Śatapaṭha-bṛāhmaṇa 3.6.4.16) The sandalwood tree’s branches (valśam) are surrounded by many snakes.

|| 3.8.30 ||