Verse Text
yathā –
ambara-maṇi-nikurambaṁ viḍambayann api marīci-kulaiḥ |
hari-vakṣasi ruci-niviḍe maṇirāḍ ayam uḍur iva sphurati ||57||
Translation
Though the Kaustubha jewel, the king of jewels, discredits the sun by its shining rays, it appears like only a star on the Lord’s chest, which shines much brighter than the Kaustubha.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Though this is true, the Lord also hides His effulgence in order to perform His earthly pastimes. It should be understood that because of doing this, one is able to perceive the effulgence of the sun and other sources of illumination. Kṛṣṇa says nāhaṁ prakāśaḥ sarvasya yogamāyā-samāvṛtaḥ: Covered by yoga-māyā, I am not revealed to all people. (BG 7.25) Another version of the text is: kaustubha-maṇir uḍur iva (the Kaustubha jewel like the moon) instead of maṇirāḍ ayam uḍur iva (king of jewels like the moon).
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
The luster of the hosts of jewels fixed on the chest of the Lord can defeat even the luster of the sun, and still, when compared with the bodily luster of the Lord, that crest of jewels appears to be only as bright as one of the stars in the sky.