līlāśukaviracita śrīkṛṣṇnakarṇāmṛtam 2-109
kastūrītilakaṃ lalāṭaphalake vakṣaḥsthale kaustubhaṃ
nāsāgre navamauktikaṃ karatale veṇuṃ kare kaṅkaṇam |
sarvāṅge haricandanaṃ ca kalayan kaṇṭhe ca muktāvaliṃ
gopastrīpariveṣṭito vijayate gopālacūḍāmaṇiḥ ||
Re-ordered Word-by-word meaning
gopālacūḍāmaṇiḥ vijayate gopastrīpariveṣṭitaḥ - Krishna, the crest-jewel among cowherds, shines inglory, surrounded by gopi women, (and the poet desribes His appearance):
kalayan - He sports
lalāṭaphalake kastūrītilakaṃ - On His forehead, the kasturi (musk deer unguent) mark of beauty,
vakṣaḥsthale kaustubhaṃ - the Kaustubha jewel on His chest,
nāsāgre navamauktikaṃ - at the tip of His nose, a beautiful pearl ornament,
karatale veṇuṃ kare kaṅkaṇam - in His hand, the flute, on his wrist, the jewelled bangle,
ca sarvāṅge haricandanaṃ - and the red sandalwood paste all over His body,
ca kaṇṭhe muktāvaliṃ - and a pearl necklace round His neck.
Lila Shuka, a Kerala poet, has recounted the story of Krishna in beautuil Samskrita verses like these. The book is called Krishnakarnamruta.
Today is the Krishna Janma Adtami Rohini festival. The picture is of my mother's handiwork with lace. silk, pearls and stones on a Krishna picture. This art was the rage in first half of 20th century.
