Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I would like to share a beautiful verse from Srimad Bhagavatam spoken by Queen Kunti in which she glorifies Lord Krishna using the analogy of lotus.
namaḥ paṅkaja-nābhāya
namaḥ paṅkaja-māline
namaḥ paṅkaja-netrāya
namas te paṅkajāṅghraye
“My respectful obeisances are unto You, O Lord, whose abdomen is marked with a depression like a lotus flower, who are always decorated with garlands of lotus flowers, whose glance is as cool as the lotus and whose feet are engraved with lotuses.” (SB 1.8.22)
In this verse, Queen Kunti offers her obeisances to the Lord verbally by saying ‘namaḥ’. This is because Queen Kunti was elder to Krishna and hence as per social custom, she could never bow down to Him physically. Only Krishna was bowing down to her whenever they met.
Queen Kunti could not bow down to the Lord even though He is the Supreme Lord due to social etiquette. Therefore, when Lord Krishna was about to leave Hastinapur, Kunti Maharani offered her heart-rending prayers embodying deep philosophy of pure bhakti, unalloyed love and gratitude for Krishna . In her prayers, Queen Kunti offered many obeisances to the Lord by saying namaḥ which fulfilled her heart’s desire to express her complete reverence to the Lord.
She starts of her prayers by saying, “namasye puruṣaṁ tvādyam”, and ends her prayers by saying “bhagavan namas te”. In the above verse, she offers her obeisances verbally to each part of the Lord’s transcendental form by saying “namaḥ”.
She expresses the Lord’s navel is pankaja-nabaya. Meaning, it looks like a lotus. Hence, the Lord is also called Padmanabha. Queen Kunti also mentions Lord is wearing a garland which is full of lotuses, His eyes are so beautiful like a lotus, and His feat is also like lotus.
This verse is spoken twice in Srimad Bhagavatam. This same verse was also spoken by Bhumi Devi (earth-goddess) in the 10th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. After Narakasura was killed by Krishna, Bhumi praises Krishna by speaking this verse. In fact, very few verses of Srimad Bhagavatam come twice. Hence, this denotes the importance of this verse.
Therefore, we should memorize this verse and speak it when we take darshan of the Lord in the temple and at home.
Padma purana says:
nāma cintāmaṇiḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ
pūrṇaḥ śuddho nitya-mukto
abhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ
This means Krishna’s name is always liberated and spiritual. His name is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krishna and Krishna Himself are identical.
Therefore, this understanding will help us to chant Krishna’s Holy names and glorify Him with love and devotion! This way, Krishna will be pleased with our glorifications.
Your servant,
Satya Sara das
August 13, 2024