Meditation on the Form of Sri Radha-Krishna

Verse 1 (skanda.2.217.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । आचम्य प्राणानायम्य ततोसौ स्वस्थमानसः । नमस्कृत्येष्टदेवादीन्देशकालौ च कीर्तयेत्

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | ācamya prāṇānāyamya tatosau svasthamānasaḥ | namaskṛtyeṣṭadevādīndeśakālau ca kīrtayet

Sri Narayana said: Having sipped water for purification and regulated the breath, and his mind now composed, he should bow to his chosen deity and the rest, and declare the place and time.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.217.2)

एकान्तधर्मसिद्यर्थं वासुदेवस्य पूजनम् । करिष्य इति संकल्प्य कुर्यान्न्यासविधिं ततः

ekāntadharmasidyarthaṁ vāsudevasya pūjanam | kariṣya iti saṁkalpya kuryānnyāsavidhiṁ tataḥ

Resolving, 'I shall perform the worship of Vasudeva for the accomplishment of the exclusive dharma,' he should then perform the rite of nyasa.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.217.3)

न्यासे मन्त्रा द्वादशार्णो गायत्री वैष्णवी तथा । नारायणाष्टाक्षरश्च ज्ञेया विष्णुषडक्षरः

nyāse mantrā dvādaśārṇo gāyatrī vaiṣṇavī tathā | nārāyaṇāṣṭākṣaraśca jñeyā viṣṇuṣaḍakṣaraḥ

For the nyasa, the mantras are the twelve-syllabled one, and likewise the Vaishnavi Gayatri; and one should know also the eight-syllabled mantra of Narayana and the six-syllabled one of Vishnu.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.217.4)

एते द्विजानां विहितास्तदन्येषां त्विह त्रयः । वासुदेवाष्टाक्षरश्च हरिपञ्चाक्षरस्तथा । षडर्णः केशवस्येति न्यासे होमे च संमताः

ete dvijānāṁ vihitāstadanyeṣāṁ tviha trayaḥ | vāsudevāṣṭākṣaraśca haripañcākṣarastathā | ṣaḍarṇaḥ keśavasyeti nyāse home ca saṁmatāḥ

These are ordained for the twice-born; but for others, three are approved for nyasa and the fire-offering: the eight-syllabled mantra of Vasudeva, the five-syllabled one of Hari, and the six-syllabled one of Keshava.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.217.5)

श्रीविष्णुप्रतिमांगेषु स्वांगेष्विव ततोऽखिलान् । कुर्यान्यासांश्च तैर्मन्त्रैस्ततोर्चां वाससाऽऽमृजेत्

śrīviṣṇupratimāṁgeṣu svāṁgeṣviva tato'khilān | kuryānyāsāṁśca tairmantraistatorcāṁ vāsasā''mṛjet

Then, on the limbs of the image of Sri Vishnu, just as on his own limbs, he should perform all the placements with those mantras; then he should wipe the image with a cloth.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.217.6)

कलशं वामभागे स्वे संस्थाप्यावाह्य तत्र च । तीर्थानि गन्धपुष्पाद्यैरुपचारैस्तमर्चयेत्

kalaśaṁ vāmabhāge sve saṁsthāpyāvāhya tatra ca | tīrthāni gandhapuṣpādyairupacāraistamarcayet

Having set up a water-vessel on his own left side and invoked into it the sacred waters, he should worship the sacred fords there with offerings of sandal-paste, flowers, and the rest.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.217.7)

पूजाद्रव्याणि चात्मानं प्रोक्षयित्वा तदम्बुना । शंखं घण्टां च संपूज्य भूतशुद्धिं समाचरेत्

pūjādravyāṇi cātmānaṁ prokṣayitvā tadambunā | śaṁkhaṁ ghaṇṭāṁ ca saṁpūjya bhūtaśuddhiṁ samācaret

Having sprinkled the worship materials and himself with that water, and having worshipped the conch and the bell, he should perform the purification of the elements.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.217.8)

आभ्यन्तराग्निवायुभ्यां दग्ध्वा पापात्मकं वपुः । शुद्धस्य स्वात्मनस्त्वैक्यं भावयेद्ब्रह्मणा स्थिरः

ābhyantarāgnivāyubhyāṁ dagdhvā pāpātmakaṁ vapuḥ | śuddhasya svātmanastvaikyaṁ bhāvayedbrahmaṇā sthiraḥ

Having burnt away his sinful body by the inner fire and wind, he should, remaining steady, meditate upon the oneness of his own purified self with Brahman.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.217.9)

ततोऽक्षरब्रह्मरूपो राधाकृष्णं हृदि प्रभुम् । ध्यायेदव्यग्रमनसा प्राणायामं समाचरन्

tato'kṣarabrahmarūpo rādhākṛṣṇaṁ hṛdi prabhum | dhyāyedavyagramanasā prāṇāyāmaṁ samācaran

Then, having become one in form with the imperishable Brahman, he should, performing pranayama with an undistracted mind, meditate in his heart upon the Lord Radha-Krishna.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.217.10)

अधोमुखं नाभिपद्मं कदलीपुष्पवत्स्थितम् । विभाव्यापानपवनं प्राणेनैक्यमुपानयेत्

adhomukhaṁ nābhipadmaṁ kadalīpuṣpavatsthitam | vibhāvyāpānapavanaṁ prāṇenaikyamupānayet

Visualizing the navel-lotus, drooping like a plantain flower, he should bring the downward breath into union with the upward breath.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.217.11)

पद्मनाले तमानीय सह तेन तदम्बुजम् । आकर्षेदूर्ध्वमथ तन्नदत्तीव्रमुपैति हृत् । प्रफुल्लति च तत्रैतद्धृदयाकाश उल्लसत्

padmanāle tamānīya saha tena tadambujam | ākarṣedūrdhvamatha tannadattīvramupaiti hṛt | praphullati ca tatraitaddhṛdayākāśa ullasat

Having brought that united breath into the lotus-stalk, he should draw the lotus itself upward with it; then it opens, resonating intensely, and reaches the heart, and there it blossoms forth, radiant in the space of the heart.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.217.12)

तेजोराशिमये तत्र ततोप्यधिकतेजसा । दर्शनीयतमं शान्तं ध्यायेच्छ्रीराधिकापतिम्

tejorāśimaye tatra tatopyadhikatejasā | darśanīyatamaṁ śāntaṁ dhyāyecchrīrādhikāpatim

There, within that mass of light, by a still greater effulgence, he should meditate upon the most beautiful and serene Lord of Sri Radhika.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.217.13)

उपविष्टं स्थितं वा तं दिव्यचिन्मयविग्रहम् । ध्यायेत्किशोरवयसं कोटिकन्दर्पसुन्दरम्

upaviṣṭaṁ sthitaṁ vā taṁ divyacinmayavigraham | dhyāyetkiśoravayasaṁ koṭikandarpasundaram

He should meditate upon Him, seated or standing, of a divine, consciousness-formed body, of youthful age, more beautiful than millions of Cupids.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.217.14)

रूपानुरूपसंपूर्णदिव्यावयवलक्षितम् । शरच्चन्द्रावदातांगं दीर्घचारुभुजद्वयम्

rūpānurūpasaṁpūrṇadivyāvayavalakṣitam | śaraccandrāvadātāṁgaṁ dīrghacārubhujadvayam

Marked with divine limbs, each perfectly proportioned to His form; His body radiant like the autumn moon, with two long and beautiful arms.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.217.15)

आरक्तकोमलतलरम्यांगुलिपदाम्बुजम् । तुंगारुणस्निग्धनखद्युतिलज्जायितोडुपम्

āraktakomalatalaramyāṁgulipadāmbujam | tuṁgāruṇasnigdhanakhadyutilajjāyitoḍupam

His lotus feet lovely, with reddish, soft soles and fingers, the lustre of their high, ruddy, glossy nails putting the moon to shame.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.217.16)

शिञ्जत्किंकिणिमञ्जीरहंसकांघ्रियुगश्रियम् । सुवृत्तजंघायुगलं समजानूरुशोभनम्

śiñjatkiṁkiṇimañjīrahaṁsakāṁghriyugaśriyam | suvṛttajaṁghāyugalaṁ samajānūruśobhanam

The beauty of His feet enhanced by tinkling small bells and swan-shaped anklets; His pair of calves well-rounded, His knees and thighs beautifully proportioned.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.217.17)

सद्रत्नरशनाबद्धपीताम्बरकटिश्रियम् । उत्तुंगकुक्षिनाभ्यन्तर्निम्ननाभिवलित्रयम्

sadratnaraśanābaddhapītāmbarakaṭiśriyam | uttuṁgakukṣinābhyantarnimnanābhivalitrayam

The beauty of His waist bound by a girdle of fine jewels over yellow garments; His high sides, and, between them, His deep navel with its three folds.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.217.18)

विततोत्तुंगहृदयं श्रीवत्सावर्त्तशोभितम् । ललन्तीगुच्छगुच्छार्द्धदेवच्छन्दादिभूषितम्

vitatottuṁgahṛdayaṁ śrīvatsāvarttaśobhitam | lalantīgucchagucchārddhadevacchandādibhūṣitam

His broad, raised chest adorned with the Shrivatsa curl; adorned with the Lalanti pendant and half-garlands of the Devachanda and the like.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.217.19)

नानासुगन्धिपुष्पस्रक्स्वर्णयज्ञोपवीतिनम् । उन्निद्रशोणपद्माभकरकंकणभूषणम्

nānāsugandhipuṣpasraksvarṇayajñopavītinam | unnidraśoṇapadmābhakarakaṁkaṇabhūṣaṇam

Wearing garlands of many fragrant flowers and a golden sacred thread; His hands adorned with bracelets, resembling fully-bloomed red lotuses.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.217.20)

सूक्ष्मपर्वांगुलिद्योतन्नैकसद्रत्नमुद्रिकम् । निनादयन्तं मधुरं वेणुं सर्वमनोहरम्

sūkṣmaparvāṁgulidyotannaikasadratnamudrikam | ninādayantaṁ madhuraṁ veṇuṁ sarvamanoharam

His slender-jointed fingers gleaming with many fine jewelled rings, playing the sweet, all-enchanting flute.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.217.21)

विपुलांसं गूढजत्रुं महाबाह्वंगदद्युतिम् । भ्रमत्सुगन्धलुब्धालिझंकारितवनस्रजम्

vipulāṁsaṁ gūḍhajatruṁ mahābāhvaṁgadadyutim | bhramatsugandhalubdhālijhaṁkāritavanasrajam

His shoulders broad, His collarbones concealed, the splendour of armlets upon His great arms; wearing a forest-garland around which bees, greedy for its fragrance, hum as they hover.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.217.22)

कम्बूपमगलभ्राजत्सद्ग्रैवेयककौस्तुभम् । शोभमानहनुं बिम्बीफलशोणाधरद्युतिम्

kambūpamagalabhrājatsadgraiveyakakaustubham | śobhamānahanuṁ bimbīphalaśoṇādharadyutim

His neck like a conch-shell, gleaming with a fine necklace and the Kaustubha jewel; His chin beautiful, His lower lip radiant red like the bimba fruit.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.217.23)

सितस्मितकलाराजत्पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननम् । तिलपुष्पसमाकारदर्शनीयसुनासिकम्

sitasmitakalārājatpūrṇacandranibhānanam | tilapuṣpasamākāradarśanīyasunāsikam

His face resembling the full moon, radiant with the gentle art of a white smile; His beautiful nose shaped like a sesame flower, lovely to behold.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.217.24)

समानकर्णविभ्राजन्मकराकृतिकुण्डलम् । कर्णोपरिलसच्चित्रपुष्पगुच्छावतंसकम्

samānakarṇavibhrājanmakarākṛtikuṇḍalam | karṇoparilasaccitrapuṣpagucchāvataṁsakam

His matching ears gleaming with makara-shaped earrings; above His ears, lovely clusters of many-coloured flowers worn as ear-ornaments.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.217.25)

समसूक्ष्मरदज्योत्स्नोल्लसद्गण्डस्थलश्रियम् । पद्मपत्रायतारक्तप्रान्तरम्यविलोचनम्

samasūkṣmaradajyotsnollasadgaṇḍasthalaśriyam | padmapatrāyatāraktaprāntaramyavilocanam

The beauty of His cheeks enhanced by the moonlight-like radiance of His even, fine teeth; His lovely eyes long like lotus petals, with reddish corners.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.217.26)

पृथुतुंगललाटं च कामचापायितभ्रुवम् । वक्रसूक्ष्मासितस्निग्धमनोहरशिरोरुहम्

pṛthutuṁgalalāṭaṁ ca kāmacāpāyitabhruvam | vakrasūkṣmāsitasnigdhamanoharaśiroruham

His forehead broad and high, His eyebrows curved like the bow of Kama; His hair curly, fine, dark, glossy, and enchanting.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.217.27)

नानासद्रत्नखचितकिरीटधृतशेखरम् । प्रेम्णा निजं वीक्षमाणं प्रसन्नं स्निग्धया दृशा

nānāsadratnakhacitakirīṭadhṛtaśekharam | premṇā nijaṁ vīkṣamāṇaṁ prasannaṁ snigdhayā dṛśā

Wearing a crown studded with many fine jewels as His crest; gazing lovingly upon His own devotee, serene, with an affectionate glance.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.217.28)

ध्यात्वेत्थं कृष्णमथ तद्वामे राधां विचिन्तयेत् । द्विभुजां स्वर्णगौरांगीं कौसुम्भामलवाससम्

dhyātvetthaṁ kṛṣṇamatha tadvāme rādhāṁ vicintayet | dvibhujāṁ svarṇagaurāṁgīṁ kausumbhāmalavāsasam

Having thus meditated upon Krishna, he should then contemplate Radha on His left — two-armed, of golden fair complexion, clad in a spotless red garment.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.217.29)

समकर्णोल्लसद्रत्नभूषणांशुकनासिकाम् । किशोरीं मृगशावाक्षीं पीनोन्नतघनस्तनीम्

samakarṇollasadratnabhūṣaṇāṁśukanāsikām | kiśorīṁ mṛgaśāvākṣīṁ pīnonnataghanastanīm

Her matching ears gleaming with jewelled ornaments, her nose adorned; a young maiden with fawn-like eyes, her full, high, firm breasts.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.217.30)

कृशमध्यां पृथुश्रोणिं रत्नकाञ्चीविभूषिताम् । अनेकदिव्याभरणां विकचाब्जाननस्मिताम्

kṛśamadhyāṁ pṛthuśroṇiṁ ratnakāñcīvibhūṣitām | anekadivyābharaṇāṁ vikacābjānanasmitām

Her waist slender, her hips broad, adorned with a jewelled girdle; wearing many divine ornaments, her face smiling like a blossoming lotus.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.217.31)

रत्नांगुलीयकेयूरकङ्कणादिलसत्कराम् । शिञ्जद्धंसकमञ्जीरशोभमानांघ्रिपङ्कजाम्

ratnāṁgulīyakeyūrakaṅkaṇādilasatkarām | śiñjaddhaṁsakamañjīraśobhamānāṁghripaṅkajām

Her hands gleaming with jewelled rings, armlets, bracelets, and the like; her lotus feet beautiful with tinkling swan-shaped anklets.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.217.32)

विशालभालविलसत्सत्काश्मीरललाटिकाम् । बिम्बोष्ठीं सुकपोलां च वेणीग्रथितमालतीम्

viśālabhālavilasatsatkāśmīralalāṭikām | bimboṣṭhīṁ sukapolāṁ ca veṇīgrathitamālatīm

Her broad forehead gleaming with a fine mark of Kashmiri saffron; her lips like the bimba fruit, her cheeks lovely, her braided hair woven with malati flowers.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.217.33)

प्रेक्षमाणां प्रभुं प्रेम्णा दधानामम्बुजं करे । ध्यात्वैवं राधिकां तत्र प्रभुमर्चेत्तया सह

prekṣamāṇāṁ prabhuṁ premṇā dadhānāmambujaṁ kare | dhyātvaivaṁ rādhikāṁ tatra prabhumarcettayā saha

Gazing lovingly upon the Lord, holding a lotus in her hand. Having thus meditated upon Radhika, he should worship the Lord together with her.