1016
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 1, Ch. 19]
Thus he was not dependent on any formal process. The formal processes are necessary for those who are expected to reach the stage of complete liberation, but Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī was already in that status by the grace of his father. As a young boy he was expected to be properly dressed, but he went about naked and was disinterested in social customs. He was neglected by the general populace, and inquisitive boys and women surrounded him as if he were a madman. He thus appears on the scene while traveling on the earth on his own accord. It appears that to the inquiry of Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the great sages were not unanimous in their decision as to what was to be done. For spiritual salvation there were many prescriptions according to the different modes of different persons. But the ultimate aim of life is to attain the highest perfectional stage of devotional service of the Lord. As doctors differ, so also sages differ in their different prescriptions. While such things were going on, the great powerful son of Vyāsadeva appeared on the scene.
TEXT 26
तं द्वयष्टवर्षं सुकुमारपाद- करोरुबाह्वंसकपोलगात्रम् । चार्वायताक्षोन्नसतुल्यकर्ण- सुभ्राननं कम्बुसुजातकण्ठम् ॥२६॥
tam dvyaṣṭa-varṣam su-kumāra-pāda- karoru-bāhv-amsa-kapola-gātram cārv-āyatākṣonnasa-tulya-karṇa- subhrv-ānanam kambu-sujāta-kaṇṭham
tam—him; dvyaṣṭa—sixteen; varṣam—years; su-kumāra—delicate; pāda—legs; kara—hands; ūru—thighs; bāhu—arms; amsa—shoulders; kapola—forehead; gātram—body; cāru—beautiful; āyata—broad; akṣa—eyes; unnasa—high nose; tulya—similar; karṇa—ears; subhru—nice brows; ānanam—face; kambu—conchshell; sujāta—nicely built; kaṇṭham—neck.
TRANSLATION
This son of Vyāsadeva was only sixteen years old. His legs, hands, thighs, arms, shoulders, forehead and the other parts of his body were all