Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 31

Dhruva’s Benediction from Kuvera and His Ascension to Viṣṇuloka

Dhruvaloka

Devanagari script

तदा दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्मृदङ्गपणवादय: । गन्धर्वमुख्या: प्रजगु: पेतु: कुसुमवृष्टय: ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

tadā dundubhayo nedur mṛdaṅga-paṇavādayaḥ gandharva-mukhyāḥ prajaguḥ petuḥ kusuma-vṛṣṭayaḥ

Translation

At that time drums and kettledrums resounded from the sky, the chief Gandharvas began to sing, and other demigods showered flowers like torrents of rain upon Dhruva Mahārāja.

Synonyms

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• dundubhayaḥ: kettledrums
• dundubhayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Plural)

• neduḥ: resounded
• neduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nad (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• mṛdaṅga-paṇava-ādayaḥ: mṛdaṅgas, paṇavas, and others (drums)
• mṛdaṅga-paṇava-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛdaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + paṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• gandharva-mukhyāḥ: chief Gandharvas
• gandharva-mukhyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (gandharvānām mukhyāḥ)

• prajaguḥ: sang
• prajaguḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्गः प्र-

• petuḥ: fell down
• petuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• kusuma-vṛṣṭayaḥ: showers of flowers
• kusuma-vṛṣṭayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kusuma (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kusumānām vṛṣṭayaḥ)

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas

FAQs

Why do flowers shower and celestial instruments play in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse shows a divine celebration—celestial beings honor an extraordinary devotional event, marking approval and auspiciousness as a devotee is glorified.

Who is speaking this verse in Canto 4 Chapter 12?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while describing Dhruva Mahārāja’s exalted destination and the cosmic celebration around it.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

It encourages steady bhakti: sincere devotion brings inner assurance and auspicious transformation, even if outer “celestial signs” are not visible.