Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 24

Nārada Instructs Prācīnabarhiṣat: The Purañjana Narrative Begins

City of Nine Gates

Devanagari script

स्तनौ व्यञ्जितकैशोरौ समवृत्तौ निरन्तरौ । वस्त्रान्तेन निगूहन्तीं व्रीडया गजगामिनीम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

stanau vyañjita-kaiśorau sama-vṛttau nirantarau vastrāntena nigūhantīṁ vrīḍayā gaja-gāminīm

Translation

With the end of her sārī the woman was trying to cover her breasts, which were equally round and well placed side by side. She again and again tried to cover them out of shyness while she walked exactly like a great elephant.

Synonyms

• stanau: the two breasts
• stanau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• vyañjita-kaiśorau: showing youthful freshness
• vyañjita-kaiśorau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyañjita (कृदन्त, √vyañj्/व्यञ्ज्) + kaiśora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारयवत् प्रयोगः): ‘व्यञ्जितं कैशोरं ययोः’

• sama-vṛttau: even and well-rounded
• sama-vṛttau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtta (कृदन्त, √vṛt/वृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: ‘समौ च वृतौ च’/‘समवृत्तौ’ (even, well-rounded)

• nirantarau: close-set/continuous
• nirantarau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• vastra-antena: with the edge of her garment
• vastra-antena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘वस्त्रस्य अन्तः’ → ‘वस्त्रान्त’

• nigūhantīm: concealing
• nigūhantīm: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√guh (धातु) → nigūhantī (कृदन्त, वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle): ‘(सा) निगूहन्ती’ = hiding/concealing

• vrīḍayā: out of modesty
• vrīḍayā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrīḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• gaja-gāminīm: elephant-gaited (gracefully walking) woman
• gaja-gāminīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + gāminī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘गजस्य गामिनी इव’ (elephant-like walker)

Purport

The two breasts represent attachment and envy. The symptoms of rāga and dveṣa (attachment and envy) are described in Bhagavad-gītā (3.34) :

Characters & Entities

• Purañjana
• the young woman (allegorical heroine of the narrative)

FAQs

What is the meaning of gajagāminī in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse, gajagāminī describes a woman whose walk is graceful and swaying like an elephant—an idiom for dignified, captivating movement.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavata Purana 4.25.24?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while narrating to King Parīkṣit the account of Purañjana and the allegorical woman he encounters.

What practical lesson can be taken from this verse today?

The verse highlights how внешняя charm and modest presentation can strongly attract the mind—reminding a seeker to stay vigilant about sense-attraction and to redirect attention toward devotional remembrance.