Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 8

Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī

Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

पुरं सम्मृष्टसंसिक्तमार्गरथ्याचतुष्पथम् । चित्रध्वजपताकाभिस्तोरणै: समलङ्कृतम् ॥ ८ ॥ स्रग्गन्धमाल्याभरणैर्विरजोऽम्बरभूषितै: । जुष्टं स्‍त्रीपुरुषै: श्रीमद्गृहैरगुरुधूपितै: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

puraṁ sammṛṣṭa-saṁsikta- mārga-rathyā-catuṣpatham citra-dhvaja-patākābhis toraṇaiḥ samalaṅkṛtam

Translation

The king had the main avenues, commercial roads and intersections thoroughly cleaned and then sprinkled with water, and he also had the city decorated with triumphant archways and multicolored banners on poles. The men and women of the city, arrayed in spotless raiment and anointed with fragrant sandalwood paste, wore precious necklaces, flower garlands and jeweled ornaments, and their opulent homes were filled with the aroma of aguru.

Synonyms

• पुरम्: the city
• पुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सम्मृष्ट-संसिक्त-मार्ग-रथ्या-चतुष्पथम्: (the city) whose roads, streets, and crossroads were well-swept and sprinkled
• सम्मृष्ट-संसिक्त-मार्ग-रथ्या-चतुष्पथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्मृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + संसिक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + रथ्या (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुष्पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः—मार्ग-रथ्या-चतुष्पथाः (roads, streets, crossroads) इति द्वन्द्वः; तेषां ‘सम्मृष्ट’ (well-swept) ‘संसिक्त’ (sprinkled) इति विशेषणद्वय-समाहारः; पुरं विशेषयति

• चित्र-ध्वज-पताकाभिः: with colorful flags and banners
• चित्र-ध्वज-पताकाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) + पताका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (पताका-प्रधान), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘ध्वजाः पताकाः’ इति द्वन्द्वः, ‘चित्र’ इति विशेषण

• तोरणैः: with archways/toranas
• तोरणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• समलङ्कृतम्: well adorned
• समलङ्कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अलङ्कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुरं विशेषयति—‘well-decorated’

• स्रक्-गन्ध-माल्य-आभरणैः: with garlands, fragrances, wreaths, and ornaments
• स्रक्-गन्ध-माल्य-आभरणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रज्/स्रक् (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘garlands, perfumes, wreaths, ornaments’ इति समाहार-द्वन्द्व

• विरजः-अम्बर-भूषितैः: adorned with spotless garments
• विरजः-अम्बर-भूषितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘विरजः अम्बरैः भूषितैः’—निर्मल-वस्त्र-भूषितैः (people)

• जुष्टम्: frequented/filled
• जुष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जुष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुरं विशेषयति—‘frequented/filled’

• स्त्री-पुरुषैः: by women and men
• स्त्री-पुरुषैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समाहार), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• श्रीमद्-गृहैः: with splendid houses
• श्रीमद्-गृहैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमद् (प्रातिपदिक) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘श्रीमन्ति गृहाणि’

• अगुरु-धूपितैः: fumigated with aguru incense
• अगुरु-धूपितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + धूपित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘अगुरुणा धूपित’—perfumed with aloe-wood incense

Purport

When earthen roads are sprinkled with water, the dust settles down and the road becomes smooth and firm. King Bhīṣmaka thoroughly prepared for the great wedding, setting the scene for Lord Kṛṣṇa’s triumphant abduction of beautiful Rukmiṇī-devī.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about preparing a city for a sacred festival or wedding?

It describes purification and beautification—sweeping, sprinkling water, and decorating with flags, banners, and gateways—as auspicious acts welcoming the Lord’s divine pastime.

Why is the city described as being swept and sprinkled with water in Canto 10?

Because a major sacred event—Kṛṣṇa’s connection with Rukmiṇī’s marriage—was unfolding, and traditional Vedic culture marks such moments by physical and ritual cleanliness and festive adornment.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Before important spiritual occasions, create a clean, orderly, and uplifting environment—outer cleanliness supports inner attentiveness and devotion.