Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 37

Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat

Devanagari script

शङ्खदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्भेरीतूर्याण्यनेकश: । वीणावेणुमृदङ्गानि पुरं प्रविशति प्रभौ ॥ ३७ ॥ सिक्तमार्गां हृष्टजनां पताकाभिरभ्यलङ्कृताम् । निर्घुष्टां ब्रह्मघोषेण कौतुकाबद्धतोरणाम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

śaṅkha-dundubhayo nedur bherī-tūryāṇy anekaśaḥ vīṇā-veṇu-mṛdaṅgāni puraṁ praviśati prabhau

Translation

As the Lord entered His city, conchshells and kettledrums sounded, and many drums, horns, vīṇās, flutes and mṛdaṅgas played in concert. The boulevards were sprinkled with water, there were banners everywhere, and the gateways were decorated for the celebration. The citizens were elated, and the city resounded with the chanting of Vedic hymns.

Synonyms

• शङ्खदुन्दुभयः: conches and kettledrums
• शङ्खदुन्दुभयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख-दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक; शङ्ख + दुन्दुभि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• नेदुः: sounded
• नेदुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• भेरीतूर्याणि: kettle-drums and trumpets/instruments
• भेरीतूर्याणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेरी-तूर्य (प्रातिपदिक; भेरी + तूर्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व

• अनेकशः: in many ways, repeatedly
• अनेकशः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner/frequency)

• वीणावेणुमृदङ्गानि: lutes, flutes, and drums
• वीणावेणुमृदङ्गानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीणा-वेणु-मृदङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; वीणा + वेणु + मृदङ्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व

• पुरम्: the city
• पुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रविशति: enters
• प्रविशति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रभौ: when the Lord (was entering) / in the Lord’s presence
• प्रभौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; ‘प्रभौ’ = प्रभौ (loc. sg.)

• सिक्तमार्गाम्: (the city) with sprinkled roads
• सिक्तमार्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिक्त-मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक; सिक्त + मार्ग)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘सिक्त’ (sprinkled)

• हृष्टजनाम्: with delighted people
• हृष्टजनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट-जन (प्रातिपदिक; हृष्ट + जन)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय; ‘हृष्ट’ (delighted)

• पताकाभिः: with flags
• पताकाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अभ्यलङ्कृताम्: adorned
• अभ्यलङ्कृताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-आ-लङ्कृ (धातु) → अभ्यलङ्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (adorned)

• निर्घुष्टाम्: resounding
• निर्घुष्टाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-घुष् (धातु) → निर्घुष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (resounding)

• ब्रह्मघोषेण: with Vedic chanting
• ब्रह्मघोषेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-घोष (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्म + घोष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः घोषः)

• कौतुकाबद्धतोरणाम्: having festal gateways set up
• कौतुकाबद्धतोरणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौतुक-आबद्ध-तोरण (प्रातिपदिक; कौतुक + आबद्ध + तोरण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुष: कौतुकेन आबद्धानि तोरणानि यस्याः (having festal arches tied up for celebration)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about welcoming Lord Krishna?

This verse describes a jubilant welcome as Kṛṣṇa enters the city, with conches, drums, and other instruments sounding—showing public, devotional celebration of the Lord’s presence.

Why is Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s entry into the city described with so many instruments?

The instruments convey the community’s collective joy and reverence, emphasizing that the Lord’s arrival naturally awakens festive bhakti and auspiciousness.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Create a devotional atmosphere—kīrtana, music, and heartfelt welcome—when remembering or worshiping Kṛṣṇa, turning spiritual practice into a joyful celebration.