1492
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 4, Ch. 30]
TEXT 6
काशिष्णुना कनकवर्णविभूषणेन 
  भ्राजत्कपोलवदनो विलसत्किरीटः । 
  अष्टायुधैरनुर्वैर्गुनिभिः सुरेन्द्रै- 
  रासेवितो गरुडकिन्नरगीतकीर्तिः ॥ ६ ॥
kāśiṣṇunā kanaka-varṇa-vibhūṣaṇena 
  bhrājat-kapola-vadano vilasat-kirīṭaḥ 
  aṣṭāyudhair anucarair munibhiḥ surendrair 
  āsevito garuḍa-kinnara-gīta-kīrtiḥ
kāśiṣṇunā—shining; kanaka—gold; varṇa—colored; vibhūṣaṇena—with ornaments; bhrājat—shining; kapola—forehead; vadanaḥ—His face; vilasat—dazzling; kirīṭaḥ—His helmet; aṣṭa—eight; āyudhaiḥ—with weapons; anucaraiḥ—by followers; munibhiḥ—by great sages; surendraiḥ—by demigods; āsevitaḥ—served; garuḍa—by Garuḍa; kinnara—inhabitant of the Kinnara planet; gīta—sung; kīrtiḥ—His glories.
TRANSLATION
The Lord's face was very beautiful, and His head was decorated with a shining helmet and golden ornaments. The helmet was dazzling and was very beautifully situated on His head. The Lord had eight arms, which each held a particular weapon. The Lord was surrounded by demigods, great sages and other associates. These were all engaged in His service. Garuḍa, the carrier of the Lord, glorified the Lord with Vedic hymns by flapping his wings. Garuḍa appeared to be an inhabitant of the planet known as Kinnaraloka.
PURPORT
Generally the Viṣṇu form is manifested with four hands holding four objects (a conchshell, disc, club and lotus flower). However, here Lord Viṣṇu is described as possessing eight arms with eight kinds of weapons. According to Vīrarāghava Ācārya, the conchshell and lotus flower are also accepted as weapons. Since the Lord is the supreme controller, whatever is in His hand can be considered a weapon. Four hands hold four kinds of weapons, and the extra four hands hold an arrow, bow, trident and snake. Śrī Vīrarāghava Ācārya describes the eight weapons as  śaṅkha, cakra, gadā, padma, śārṅga, śara, etc.