Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 13

Lakṣmī’s Emergence, Dhanvantari, and the Advent of Mohinī-mūrti

Devanagari script

मेघा मृदङ्गपणवमुरजानकगोमुखान् । व्यनादयन् शङ्खवेणुवीणास्तुमुलनि:स्वनान् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

meghā mṛdaṅga-paṇava- murajānaka-gomukhān vyanādayan śaṅkha-veṇu- vīṇās tumula-niḥsvanān

Translation

The clouds in personified form beat various types of drums, known as mṛdaṅgas, paṇavas, murajas and ānakas. They also blew conchshells and bugles known as gomukhas and played flutes and stringed instruments. The combined sound of these instruments was tumultuous.

Synonyms

• मेघाः: clouds
• मेघाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• मृदङ्ग-पणव-मुरज-आनक-गोमुखान्: mṛdaṅgas, paṇavas, murajas, ānakas, and gomukhas (drums/instruments)
• मृदङ्ग-पणव-मुरज-आनक-गोमुखान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृदङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + पणव (प्रातिपदिक) + मुरज (प्रातिपदिक) + आनक (प्रातिपदिक) + गोमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः (वाद्य-समूहः); पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• व्यनादयन्: made resound
• व्यनादयन्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः वि-; causative sense ‘made resound’

• शङ्ख-वेणु-वीणाः: conches, flutes, and vīṇās
• शङ्ख-वेणु-वीणाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + वेणु (प्रातिपदिक) + वीणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः; स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• तुमुल-निःस्वनान्: loud sounds
• तुमुल-निःस्वनान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुमुल (प्रातिपदिक) + निःस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः; पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ध्वनि-विषयः

FAQs

Which musical instruments are mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 8.8.13?

This verse lists mṛdaṅga, paṇava, muraja, nāka, and gomukha-horns, along with śaṅkha (conch), veṇu (flute), and vīṇā—creating a great, cloud-like roar.

What is the context of Bhagavatam 8.8.13 in the Samudra Manthana story?

Śukadeva describes the powerful, auspicious uproar of instruments and conches during the churning of the Milk Ocean, marking the grandeur of the cosmic event.

What is a practical takeaway from this shloka for modern devotional life?

Sacred sound and music can be offered as devotion—kīrtana and instrumental worship create an uplifting, auspicious atmosphere centered on the Lord’s divine pastimes.