Adhikarana 33: Meditation on the Form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead

Adhyāya 3: Devotional Service;
Pāda 3: Worshiping the Lord’s Attributes;

Viṣaya [thesis or statement]: In the previous passages meditation on the Lord’s qualities and virtues has been described. Now will be described meditation on the Lord’s bodily limbs and features.

In Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad [1.38], the demigod Brahmā explains:

तम् एकं गोविन्दं सच्-चिद्-आनन्द-विग्रहं पञ्च-पदं वृन्दावन-सुर-भूरुह-तलासीनं सततं स-मरुद्-गणो ‘हम् परमया स्तुत्या तोषयामि.

tam ekaṃ govindaṃ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaṃ pañca-padaṃ vṛndāvana-sura-bhūruha-talāsīnaṃ satataṃ sa-marud-gaṇo ‘ham paramayā stutyā toṣayāmi.

“With eloquent prayers I and the Maruts please Lord Govinda, whose form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, who stays under a desire tree in Vṛndāvana, and who is this five-word mantra.”

In the verses that follow Brahmā speaks prayers describing the gentle smile, merciful glance, and other features on the Supreme Lord’s face, eyes, and other parts of the body.

Saṃśaya [doubt]: Are the gentle smile and other features on the Lord’s face and the other parts of His body to be meditated on or not?

Pūrvapakṣa [the opponent speaks]: Because by meditating on the Lord’s general qualities and virtues one attains the goal of life, and because that goal thus attained is so great and exalted, there is no need to meditate on the features of the Lord’s body.

Siddhānta [conclusion]: In the following words the author of the sūtras gives His conclusion.