Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 55

Dhruva’s Darśana, Transformative Prayers, and the Boon of the Dhruva-loka

Pole Star

Devanagari script

चूतपल्लववास:स्रङ्‍मुक्तादामविलम्बिभि: । उपस्कृतं प्रतिद्वारमपां कुम्भै: सदीपकै: ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

cūta-pallava-vāsaḥ-sraṅ- muktā-dāma-vilambibhiḥ upaskṛtaṁ prati-dvāram apāṁ kumbhaiḥ sadīpakaiḥ

Translation

At each and every gate there were burning lamps and big waterpots decorated with differently colored cloth, strings of pearls, flower garlands and hanging mango leaves.

Synonyms

• चूत-पल्लव-वासः-स्रक्-मुक्ता-दाम-विलम्बिभिः: with hanging mango-leaf cloths, garlands, and pearl-strings
• चूत-पल्लव-वासः-स्रक्-मुक्ता-दाम-विलम्बिभिः: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चूत (प्रातिपदिक) + पल्लव (प्रातिपदिक) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्रज्/स्रक् (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + दाम (प्रातिपदिक) + विलम्बिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः (विशेषणसमूहः): ‘चूतपल्लवैः वासांसि स्रजः मुक्तादामानि च ये विलम्बन्ति तैः’; तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• उपस्कृतम्: decorated, adorned
• उपस्कृतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप+कृ (धातु) → उपस्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकाले कर्मणि क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र ‘प्रतिद्वारम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रति-द्वारम्: at each doorway
• प्रति-द्वारम्: अधिकरण (Locative sense: per door)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः: ‘प्रत्येकं द्वारम्’ (at each door); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• अपाम्: of water
• अपाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (अप्-शब्दः), षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• कुम्भैः: with pots
• कुम्भैः: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• स-दीपकैः: with lamps (attached/along with them)
• स-दीपकैः: विशेषण (Qualifier of instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय) + दीपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-समासः: ‘दीपकैः सह’ (together with lamps); तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘कुम्भैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

FAQs

What is the meaning of mango leaves, water pots, and lamps in Srimad Bhagavatam?

They signify auspicious welcome and purity—traditional signs of honoring sacred occasions and the arrival of a spiritually exalted person.

Who is describing the decorated doorways in Canto 4 Chapter 9 of Srimad Bhagavatam?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these details while describing the joyful, reverential reception surrounding Dhruva Mahārāja’s return.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

By keeping one’s home and altar clean and sanctified—using simple, sincere arrangements (light, water, fresh leaves/flowers) to welcome the Lord and His devotees.