Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 24

Duryodhana’s Envy at Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya and the Avabhṛtha Festival

Devanagari script

सर्वे जना: सुररुचो मणिकुण्डलस्र- गुष्णीषकञ्चुकदुकूलमहार्घ्यहारा: । नार्यश्च कुण्डलयुगालकवृन्दजुष्ट- वक्त्रश्रिय: कनकमेखलया विरेजु: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

sarve janāḥ sura-ruco maṇi-kuṇḍala-srag- uṣṇīṣa-kañcuka-dukūla-mahārghya-hārāḥ nāryaś ca kuṇḍala-yugālaka-vṛnda-juṣṭa- vaktra-śriyaḥ kanaka-mekhalayā virejuḥ

Translation

All the men there shone like demigods. They were adorned with jeweled earrings, flower garlands, turbans, waistcoats, silk dhotīs and valuable pearl necklaces. The lovely faces of the women were beautified by their matched earrings and locks of hair, and they all wore golden belts.

Synonyms

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of जनाः)

• janāḥ: people
• janāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• sura-rucaḥ: radiant like gods
• sura-rucaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + रुच्/रुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सुर-रुच: ‘having godlike radiance’) विशेषण (of जनाः)

• maṇi-kuṇḍala-srak-uṣṇīṣa-kañcuka-dukūla-mahārghya-hārāḥ: wearing jeweled earrings, garlands, turbans, jackets, fine garments, and costly necklaces
• maṇi-kuṇḍala-srak-uṣṇīṣa-kañcuka-dukūla-mahārghya-hārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + स्रज्/स्रक् (प्रातिपदिक) + उष्णीष (प्रातिपदिक) + कञ्चुक (प्रातिपदिक) + दुकूल (प्रातिपदिक) + महार्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + हार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (those who have jeweled earrings, garlands, turbans, jackets, fine cloth, and costly necklaces) विशेषण (of जनाः)

• nāryaḥ: women
• nāryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• kuṇḍala-yugālaka-vṛnda-juṣṭa-vaktra-śriyaḥ: whose facial beauty was enhanced by clusters of paired earrings
• kuṇḍala-yugālaka-vṛnda-juṣṭa-vaktra-śriyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + युगलक (प्रातिपदिक) + वृन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + जुष्ट (कृदन्त, जुष् धातु) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (those whose face-beauty is adorned/attended by groups of pairs of earrings) विशेषण (of नार्यः)

• kanaka-mekhalayā: with a golden girdle
• kanaka-mekhalayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक) + मेखला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (golden girdle)

• virejuḥ: they shone
• virejuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-राज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the opulence seen at Kurukṣetra?

This verse describes the people at Kurukṣetra shining with celestial beauty, richly adorned with jewels, silks, garlands, and golden ornaments—showing the grandeur of the sacred royal gathering.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing ornaments and clothing in this section of Canto 10?

He is painting the scene of the great assembly connected with Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes—highlighting the auspiciousness, prosperity, and celebratory mood surrounding the holy event.

Practical application: what can a devotee learn from this shloka today?

It teaches that sacred occasions are honored with cleanliness, beauty, and respectful presentation—devotees can bring devotion into daily life by offering their best (within their means) for worship and holy gatherings.