Krishna,The Epitome of beauty

Adi Shankaracharya in his Prabodha Sudhakara provided us the picture of Krishna with his transcendental beauty in his unique way .

yamunA nikaTa taTa sthita

vrindAvana kAnane mahAramye

kalpa druma talabhUmau

caraNaM caraNopari sthApya

tishTaMtaM ghana nIlaM

sva tejasA bhAsayanta miha vizvaM

pItAmbara paridhAnaM

candana karpUra lipta sarvAGgam

Krishna in his famous stance...vyatyasta Padaravinda ..Sankara says ..

Visualize Lord Krishna standing with

one leg crossed over the other,

under the wish-yielding Kalpa. tree,

in a most beautiful flowery bower in Vrindavana,

situated near the banks of the river Yamuna.

Nila Nirada Syama Pitambara dhari...

His complexion as a dark rain-ladden cloud,

illuminates the whole world with its Luster.

He is dressed in yellow silk garments and

all parts of His transcendental body are anointed

with the paste of sandalwood and camphor.

Utphulla Padma netra Krishna's eyes..Sankara says

Akarna pUrna netraM

kuNDala yuga maNDita zravaNaM

manda smita mukha kamalaM

sa kaustubhO dAra maNi hAraM

Vanamali .Sikhi Pincha mauli...

valayAGgulIya kAdyA nujjvala yantaM svalankArAn

gala vilulita vana mAlaM sva tejasApAsta kali kAlaM

His large captivating eyes seem to reach almost to

His ears which are adorned with glittering earrings.

Mandahasa sundara vadanaravinda ..Sankara says

A sweet, gentle, enchanting smile blooms

from His lotus face. He is wearing jewelery

made of precious stones, pearls and

the celestial jem, Kaustubha.

Nasagre navamauktikam.Kare Kankanam..

The radiance of His transcendental body

enhances the splendour of the golden bracelets, rings

and the other ornaments present on Him.

Kanthe cha muktavali ..

Around His neck, the vanamala garland

made of five heavenly fragrant flowers,

is gently swaying to and fro.

His very brilliance and beauty drives away

the sinful effects of the dark age of Kali.

Sankara continues

gunjAravAli kalitaM

gunjA puGjAnvite zirasi

bhuGjAnaM saha gopaiH

kunjAn tar vartinaM hariM smarata

mandAra puSpa vAsita

mandAnila sevita parAnandaM

mandAkinI yuta padaM namata

mahAnanda daM mahA puruSaM

Nilalaka samyuktam..

The curly locks of His dark hair surrounded by

the vines and fragrant flowers of the divine bower,

are attracting the intoxicated, noisy, bumble bees.

The face is so beautiful that bees are hovering round him.

Fondly remember and contemplate upon Lord Hari

Who is frolicking in the bower along with His

cowherd playmates and eating His midday meal joyfully.

Gopalaka Pariveshtita Gopala chudamani

Offering worship and prayers, meditate upon

that Supreme Personality, Sri Krishna,

the Bestower of the highest Bliss!

He is fanned by the gentle breeze, scented with

the fragrance of heavenly 'mandAra' flowers,

and His lotus feet are attended by

the sacred celestial river, Ganges.

Adi Sankara hails.

surabhIkRta digvalayaM

surabhi zatair AvritaH paritaH

surabhIti kSapaNa mahA

sura bhImaM yAdavaM namata

Venuravamrita pana kishoram

His Divine fragrance pervades all around

as He is encircled by hundreds of blessed cows

who are attracted by His captivating beauty and

soul-stirring ethereal music pouring from His flute.

He Krishna namamyaham

Let us offer our humble obeisance to beloved Lord,

Sri Krishna, the Descendent of Yadu dynasty,

Who even drives away the fears of heavenly gods

by terrifying and conquering the demoniac forces

with His supreme valor.

Sankara enabled me to visualise Krishna before my eyes. What else I need?

Krishna Janmashtami ahead...Let us celebrate the birth day of my Arjun's soulmate who guided him by showering Gitamrit..May he bless us all like he blessed his Parth.

With my vision I present

-'Prabodha Sudhakara' verses 184-190

Adi Shankaracharya Bhagavatpada

Lakshmi