Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 7

Trikūṭa Mountain, Ṛtumat Garden, and the Beginning of Gajendra’s Crisis

Devanagari script

नानारण्यपशुव्रातसङ्कुलद्रोण्यलङ्‌कृत: । चित्रद्रुमसुरोद्यानकलकण्ठविहङ्गम: ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

nānāraṇya-paśu-vrāta- saṅkula-droṇy-alaṅkṛtaḥ citra-druma-surodyāna- kalakaṇṭha-vihaṅgamaḥ

Translation

The valleys beneath Trikūṭa Mountain are beautifully decorated by many varieties of jungle animals, and in the trees, which are maintained in gardens by the demigods, varieties of birds chirp with sweet voices.

Synonyms

• नाना-अरण्य-पशु-व्रात-सङ्कुल-द्रोणी-अलङ्कृतः: adorned with a valley crowded with many herds of forest animals
• नाना-अरण्य-पशु-व्रात-सङ्कुल-द्रोणी-अलङ्कृतः: विशेष्य-विशेषण (Predicate/subject adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पशु (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रात (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रोणी (प्रातिपदिक) + अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु, उपसर्गः अलम्-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः (मुख्यः तत्पुरुष-प्रायः): ‘नानाविधैः अरण्यपशुव्रातैः सङ्कुला या द्रोणी तया अलङ्कृतः’—अलङ्कृतः (भूतकृदन्त/PPP) विशेषणम्

• चित्र-द्रुम-सुर-उद्यान-कलकण्ठ-विहङ्गमः: (a place) having variegated trees, divine gardens, and melodious-throated birds
• चित्र-द्रुम-सुर-उद्यान-कलकण्ठ-विहङ्गमः: कर्ता/विशेष्य (Kartā/Subject or appositive descriptor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक) + सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + कलकण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + विहङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्य (उद्यानस्य/प्रदेशस्य) चित्रद्रुमाः, सुरोद्यानानि, कलकण्ठविहङ्गमाः सन्ति सः’ (descriptive epithet)

Characters & Entities

• Gajendra

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam describe about Gajendra’s lake and surroundings?

This verse portrays the lake as a richly ornamented natural sanctuary—valleys filled with forest animals, beautiful trees and divine gardens, and melodious birds—setting the scene for Gajendra’s later ordeal and surrender.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing the scenery before Gajendra’s danger begins?

He establishes the setting of Gajendra’s life of comfort and enjoyment in a magnificent place, so the contrast becomes clear when sudden calamity strikes and Gajendra turns wholeheartedly toward Lord Viṣṇu.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

Even in beautiful, comfortable circumstances, life can change abruptly; therefore one should cultivate remembrance of God and devotion before a crisis arrives.