2023-09-10 12:46:06 by ambuda-bot
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Introduction
xlv
Vaijayantī, the garland worn on the chest As the favourable wind
blows, the garland Vaijayantī shines forth unrivalled, mingled with the rays
of the jewels, and it occupies the shoulders of Visņu making him pleased
(one pervading the Universe and making people happy). The swarms of
bees (flying around it) make its flowers talkative and make its surrounding
dark. May this extremely beautiful, thriving garland caressed by Lakṣmī
(like her son), never cease to bestow us with all kinds of happiness. [31]72
The shoulders
The shoulders of the Lord shine forth with their splendour multicoloured
by the widespread rays radiating from his necklace, with the far-reaching
glory of the fresh Vanamālā, and with the golden splendour of his armlets.
We pray to the beautiful shoulders again and again with cupped hands to
eliminate the distress of our bondage (cycle of births and deaths) causing
successions of obstructions.[32]73
The arms carrying weapons
The arms of the Lord Hari are exclusively occupied with the protection of
the Universe; they are excellent in producing the caste of warriors fit for this
work; they are the doers of wonderful deeds beyond imagination, manifestly
possessed of great fame. They carry the bow Sarnga, the arrow, the armour,
the disc, the lotus, the conch and a multitude of other weapons. Let these
thousand arms of Vișnu eradicate my ignorance. [33]74
The neck
The multicoloured complexion of the neck of Vaikuntha is enhanced as it
is multiplied with the dense rays of light radiating from the ornaments on
the neck, from the golden glittering earrings and from the Kaustubha jewel.
It is marked with the placement of the bangles of Laksmī (as she puts her
72 Here the verse contains the figure of speech Yamaka in each pada. In the cosmic body,
the garland of Vișnu is conceived as the five elements of nature (bhūtas).
73 The shoulders of the cosmic body are formed by the seven winds, according to the
source quoted in the commentary on the next verse.
74 The arms of the cosmic body of the Lord are formed of Indra and other Gods. Here,
they are described as carrying different kinds of weapons: the Sariga bow, the arrow, the
armour, the disc, the lotus and the conch shell (the last two of which are not, strictly
speaking, weapons like the others).
xlv
Vaijayantī, the garland worn on the chest As the favourable wind
blows, the garland Vaijayantī shines forth unrivalled, mingled with the rays
of the jewels, and it occupies the shoulders of Visņu making him pleased
(one pervading the Universe and making people happy). The swarms of
bees (flying around it) make its flowers talkative and make its surrounding
dark. May this extremely beautiful, thriving garland caressed by Lakṣmī
(like her son), never cease to bestow us with all kinds of happiness. [31]72
The shoulders
The shoulders of the Lord shine forth with their splendour multicoloured
by the widespread rays radiating from his necklace, with the far-reaching
glory of the fresh Vanamālā, and with the golden splendour of his armlets.
We pray to the beautiful shoulders again and again with cupped hands to
eliminate the distress of our bondage (cycle of births and deaths) causing
successions of obstructions.[32]73
The arms carrying weapons
The arms of the Lord Hari are exclusively occupied with the protection of
the Universe; they are excellent in producing the caste of warriors fit for this
work; they are the doers of wonderful deeds beyond imagination, manifestly
possessed of great fame. They carry the bow Sarnga, the arrow, the armour,
the disc, the lotus, the conch and a multitude of other weapons. Let these
thousand arms of Vișnu eradicate my ignorance. [33]74
The neck
The multicoloured complexion of the neck of Vaikuntha is enhanced as it
is multiplied with the dense rays of light radiating from the ornaments on
the neck, from the golden glittering earrings and from the Kaustubha jewel.
It is marked with the placement of the bangles of Laksmī (as she puts her
72 Here the verse contains the figure of speech Yamaka in each pada. In the cosmic body,
the garland of Vișnu is conceived as the five elements of nature (bhūtas).
73 The shoulders of the cosmic body are formed by the seven winds, according to the
source quoted in the commentary on the next verse.
74 The arms of the cosmic body of the Lord are formed of Indra and other Gods. Here,
they are described as carrying different kinds of weapons: the Sariga bow, the arrow, the
armour, the disc, the lotus and the conch shell (the last two of which are not, strictly
speaking, weapons like the others).