Verse Text
yathā vā –
ḍorī-juṭita-vakra-keśa-paṭalā sindūra-bindūllasat-
sīmānta-dyutir aṅga-bhūṣaṇa-vidhiṁ nāti-prabhūtaṁ śritā |
govindāsya-nisṛṣṭa-sāśru-nayana-dvandvā navendīvara-
śyāma-śyāma-rucir vicitra-sicayā goṣṭheśvarī pātu vaḥ ||13||
Translation
Another description of her form: The queen of the cowherds, Yaśodā, has wavy hair bound by cords, with a dot of sindhura at the parting of her hair. She does not wear many ornaments. Her eyes become filled with tears on seeing Kṛṣṇa. Her complexion is dark like a blue lotus, radiating a dark glow, and she wears colorful clothing. May she protect us!
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Concerning Yaśodā’s complexion, it corresponds to a description in the Krama-dīpikā (34-36). In the section describing āvaraṇa-pūja (worship of the Lord’s associates) starting with tato yajed dalāgreṣu vasudevaṁ ca devakīm nanda-gopaṁ yaśodāṁ ca: (one should worship on the tips of the petals Vasudeva, Devakī, Nanda and Yaśodā) it is then said:
jṣāna-mudrābhaya-karau pitarau pīta-pāṇḍarau
divya-mālyāmbarālepa-bhūṣaṇe mātarau punaḥ
dhārayantyau ca varadaṁ pāyasāpūrṇa-pātrakam
aruṇāśyāmale hāra-maṇi-kuṇḍala-maṇḍite
The two fathers, light yellow in complexion have their hands in the jṣāna and abhaya-mudrā positions. The two mothers are decorated with shining garlands and saffron unguent. They hold vessels of blessed milk rice in their hands. Devakī is pink in complexion and Yaśodā is blackish. They are decorated with necklaces and jewel earrings.
What is said in the Gautamīya-tantra however should also be considered:
tad bahir vasudevaṁ ca yaśodāṁ devakīm punaḥ
vasudevo hemagauro varābhaya-kara-sthitaḥ
devakī śyāmasubhagā sarvābharaṇa-śobhanā
yaśodā hema-saṅkāśā śita-vastra-yugānvitā
sarvābharaṇa sandīptā kuṇḍalodbhāsitānanā
rohiṇīṁ ca yajet tatra nandaṁ gauraṁ samarcayet
varadābhaya saṁyuktaṁ samasta-puruṣārthadam
Outside of this, are situated Vasudeva, Yaśodā and Devakī. Vasudeva is golden in complexion showing the vara and abhaya-mudrās. Devakī is beautiful with dark complexion, shining with ornaments. Yaśodā is golden in complexion wearing two pieces of white cloth. She glows with many ornaments, and her face shines with the reflections from her earrings. One should then worship Rohiṇī, and then worship golden Nanda, who is showing vara and abhaya-mudrās, and who bestows all blessings.
The phrase navendīvara-śyāma-śyāma-ruciḥ means “She has a dark complexion more beautiful than the blackish hue of a fresh blue lotus.” The words form a karma-dhāraya compound, the first member (navendīvara-śyāma) describing the second (śyāma-ruciḥ).
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
There is another description of Mother Yaśodā in a devotee’s prayer: “Let me be given protection by Mother Yaśodā, whose curly hairs are bound with thread, whose hair is very brightly beautified by the vermilion placed in the part and whose bodily frame derides all her ornaments. Her eyes are always engaged in seeing the face of Kṛṣṇa, and thus they are always filled with tears. Her complexion, which resembles the bluish lotus flower, is enhanced in beauty by her dressing herself with many colorful garments. Let her merciful glance fall on all of us so that we may be protected from the clutches of māyā and smoothly progress in our devotional service!”