Doha 199

His dark form, which resembles a blue lotus and a heavy rain-cloud, possessed the beauty of millions of Cupids. The nails glistened on His red lotus-like feet as if pearls had been set on the petals of a rosy lotus. (1) Marks of a thunderbolt, a flag and a goad shone on His soles and the tinkling of His anklets enraptured the heart of sages. A string of tiny bells girdled His waist and there were three folds in His belly; the profundity of His navel is known to him alone who has perceived it. (2) His long arms were adorned with a number of ornaments and the tiger’s nail dangling on his breast possessed an exquisite beauty. The elegance of the necklace of gems with a diamond at the lowest end and the mark of the Brāhmaṇa’s foot* on the chest fascinated one’s mind. (3) * Once upon a time there was a discussion among the sages as to which of the three Lords of creation, viz., Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva was the greatest. In order to put the matter to the test Brahmā’s son Bhṛgu was deputed to visit the three divinities one by one. Bhṛgu first approached his own father and did not bow to him as a dutiful son. This enraged Brahmā; but he somehow managed to curb his anger by force of reason. From Brahmā’s court the sage went to Kailāsa. The god of gods, Śaṅkara, rose to greet the sage and stretched His arms to embrace him. But Bhṛgu avoided His touch saying, “Touch me not, since you have broken social conventions and flouted the injunctions of the Vedas.” Śiva lost His temper when He heard these aspersions. Taking up His trident He proceeded to strike the sage; but Goddess Pārvatī intervened and pacified Him. Thereafter Bhṛgu went to Vaikuṇṭha, the abode of Bhagavān Viṣṇu, and found the Lord reposing with His head on the lap of Śrī Lakṣmī. Breaking into His room unceremoniously the sage suddenly kicked Him on the chest. The almighty Lord quickly rose with Śrī Lakṣmī, alighted from His bed and, offering him homage, asked his forgiveness for the incivility shown to him by not welcoming him in advance. The Lord then rubbed the sage’s foot saying that it might have been hurt by striking against His hard breast. Since then the Lord has ever borne on His bosom the print of the sage’s foot as a mark of honour and it stands as an abiding monument to His unequalled forbearance. His neck resembled a conch-shell in its spiral shape and the chin looked most beautiful; while His face flushed with the beauty of countless Cupids. Pairs of small teeth were veiled by rosy lips and His beautiful nose and the sacred Tilaka on His brow defied description. (4) With charming ears and most lovely cheeks, His sweet lisping prattle was most delightful to hear. The soft and curly hair that had not been trimmed since His birth had been beautifully dressed in manifold ways by the mother. (5) “A yellow frock covered His body and His crawling on knees and hands was most pleasing to Me” (says Śiva). The elegance of His form was something which even the Vedas and Śeṣa (the serpent-god) could not describe; it is known to him alone who has beheld it even in a dream. (6)

The all-blissful Lord, who is above delusion and transcends knowledge, speech and all sensuous perception, played innocent sports like a child, yielding to the supreme love of the royal couple, Daśaratha and Kausalyā. (199)