The sixty-four qualities of Krishna - Introduction

In discussing vibhAva (the elements that bring force to devotional feeling) and viSayAlambana (lit. "the object-foundation", as contrasted by AzrayAlambana, "the repository-foundation"), the sixty-four qualities of Sri Krishna are discussed in detail.

I would like to review these sixty-four divine and attractive qualities over a period of time. With this in mind, I'll be starting threads with the quality in turn along with Rupa Goswami's illustration of the same. The assembly of loving devotees can then take their turn and relate narrations and express their views and feelings of the quality under scrutiny.

I would rather hope that the discussions on the said qualities would be more than a copy-paste circus - though the references are certainly there, I'd like to hear how these qualities are relevant to you, I'd like to know what they mean to you.

Translations of Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu are basically mine, though they often borrow from the edition of David Haberman.

- Sri Krishna's Sixty-four Divine Qualities -

(1) suramyAGgaH -- His body is very pleasing and delightful;
(2) sarva-sal-lakSaNAnvitaH -- He is endowed with all good features;
(3) ruciraH -- He is good looking;
(4) tejasA yuktaH -- He is endowed with brilliance and might;
(5) balIyAn -- He is strong;
(6) vayasAnvitaH -- He is youthful;
(7) vividhAdbhuta-bhASAvit -- He is fluent in many wondrous languages;
(8) satya-vAkyaH -- His words are truthful;
(9) priyaMvadaH -- His speech is pleasant;
(10) vAvadUkaH -- He is an eloquent speaker;
(11) supaNDityaH -- He is well-learned;
(12) buddhimAn -- He is intelligent;
(13) pratibhAnvitaH -- He is witty;
(14) vidagdhaH -- He is artistic;
(15) caturaH -- He is adroit;
(16) dakSaH -- He is dexterous;
(17) kRtajJaH -- He is grateful;
(18) sudRDha-vrataH -- He is firm in his resolve;
(19) deza-kAla-supAtrajJaH -- He is a knower of proper time, place and recipient;
(20) zAstra-cakSuH -- The scriptures are his eyes;
(21) zuciH -- He is pure;
(22) vazI -- He is self-controlled;
(23) sthiraH -- He is persistent;
(24) dAntaH -- He is tolerant;
(25) kSamAzIlaH -- He is endurant;
(26) gambhIraH -- He is profound;
(27) dhRtimAn -- He is steadfast;
(28) samaH -- He is equipoised;
(29) vadAnyaH -- He is generous;
(30) dhArmikaH -- He is virtuous;
(31) zUraH -- He is brave;
(32) karuNaH -- He is compassionate;
(33) mAnyamAnakRt -- He is respectful;
(34) dakSiNaH -- He is favorable;
(35) vinayI -- He is humble;
(36) hrImAn -- He is modest;
(37) zaraNAgata-pAlakaH -- He is the protector of the surrendered;
(38) sukhI -- He is joyful;
(39) bhakta-suhRt -- He is a friend of the devotees;
(40) prema-vazyaH -- He is captivated by love;
(41) sarva-zubhaGkaraH -- He is the well-doer of all;
(42) pratApI -- He is imposing;
(43) kIrtimAn -- He is famous;
(44) rakta-lokaH -- He enamours the world;
(45) sAdhu-samAzrayaH -- He is partial to the saintly;
(46) nArI-gaNa-mano-hArI -- He steals the minds of women;
(47) sarvArAdhyaH -- He is worshipable for all;
(48) samRddhimAn -- He is prosperous;
(49) varIyAn -- He is eminent;
(50) IzvaraH -- He is supreme;
(51) sadA-svarUpa-samprAptaH -- He is always situated in his own being;
(52) sarvajJaH -- He is omniscient;
(53) nitya-nUtanaH -- He is ever-new;
(54) sac-cid-Ananda-sAndrAGgaH -- He is the condensed form of eternity, knowledge and bliss;
(55) sarva-siddhi-niSevitaH -- He is the possessor of all siddhis;
(56) avicintya-mahA-zaktiH -- His energies are inconceivably great;
(57) koTi-brahmANDa-vigrahaH -- Millions of universes exist in his form;
(58) avatArAvalI-bIjam -- He is the origin of all incarnations;
(59) hatAri-gati-dAyakaH -- He gives salvations to slain enemies;
(60) AtmArAma-gaNAkarSI -- He attracts those who rejoice in the self;
(61) lIlA-mAdhuryaM -- His pastimes are sweet;
(62) premNA priyAdhikyam -- The love of his dear ones is the greatest of all;
(63) veNu-mAdhuryam -- His flute-playing is sweet;
(64) rUpa-mAdhuryaM -- His form is sweet;

The last four qualities are known as the four asAdharaNa-guNas, or uncommon qualities, that aren't met even in the all-perfect beings of the various other forms of the Lord, appearing only in Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, in Vraja.

After we have exhausted all topics of discussion on the above 64 qualities of the one whose glories Ananta Shesha sings with thousands of mouths since beginningless time , we can also look at his aspects as dhIrodAtta, dhIra-lalita, dhIra-prazAnta and dhIroddhata, and then move on to the qualities of Sri Radha narrated in the Ujjvala-nilamani.

There are also other qualities and aspects of Krishna narrated in the first chapter of Ujjvala-nilamani, we can also take a look at them in the course of our study. However, for the immediate future, the above 64 qualities should offer us plenty enough to absorb ourselves in.

Contrary to my original idea, I'll just post new threads on the theme whenever it seems appropriate. I don't want to force this into a routine.

The Bhagavata answers its own question -