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Soundarya Lahari
सौन्दर्यलहरी
Saundaryalaharī
Chant
नखानामुद्द्योतैर्नवनलिनरागं विहसतां कराणां ते कान्तिं कथय कथयामः कथमुमे । कयाचिद्वा साम्यं भजतु कलया हन्त कमलं यदि क्रीडल्लक्ष्मीचरणतललाक्षारुणदलम् ॥७१॥
Study note
Word breakdown
- नखानाम्
- of the nails
- उद्द्योतैः
- with radiant flashes
- नवनलिनरागम्
- the fresh lotus hue
- लाक्षारुणदलम्
- the lac-red petal
The verse presents an aesthetic challenge: how to describe hands whose nail-glow surpasses the lotus's natural beauty. The comparison with Lakshmi's red-lacquered feet suggests divine beauty standards that test descriptive language. For study, this points to the limits of comparison when divine beauty exceeds even nature's finest expressions.
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