Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 52

Bhṛgu Tests the Trimūrti; Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Visit Mahā-Viṣṇu and Recover the Brāhmaṇa’s Sons

Devanagari script

तत: प्रविष्ट: सलिलं नभस्वता बलीयसैजद् बृहदूर्मिभूषणम् । तत्राद्भ‍ुतं वै भवनं द्युमत्तमं भ्राजन्मणिस्तम्भसहस्रशोभितम् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ praviṣṭaḥ salilaṁ nabhasvatā balīyasaijad-bṛhad-ūrmi-bhūṣaṇam tatrādbhutaṁ vai bhavanaṁ dyumat-tamaṁ bhrājan-maṇi-stambha-sahasra-śobhitam

Translation

From that region they entered a body of water resplendent with huge waves being churned by a mighty wind. Within that ocean Arjuna saw an amazing palace more radiant than anything he had ever seen before. Its beauty was enhanced by thousands of ornamental pillars bedecked with brilliant gems.

Synonyms

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anantarya (काल/अनन्तर्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• praviṣṭaḥ: having entered / entered
• praviṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (विश् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• salilam: water
• salilam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nabhasvatā: by the wind
• nabhasvatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhasvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘wind’ अर्थे

• balīyasā: stronger
• balīyasā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balīyas (प्रातिपदिक; comparative of बलिन्/बल)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nabhasvatā-विशेषण

• ejat: trembling
• ejat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ej (एज् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘trembling/moving’

• bṛhat-ūrmi-bhūṣaṇam: adorned with great waves
• bṛhat-ūrmi-bhūṣaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक) + ūrmi (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (bṛhatyaḥ ūrmayaḥ bhūṣaṇam iva yasya) salila-विशेषण

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (locative adverb)

• adbhutam: wonderful
• adbhutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; bhavanam-विशेषण

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (निपात)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• bhavanam: mansion/abode
• bhavanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dyumat-tamam: most luminous
• dyumat-tamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dyumat (प्रातिपदिक) + tama (प्रातिपदिक; superlative suffix -tama)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘most radiant’ (superlative) bhavanam-विशेषण

• bhrājat: shining
• bhrājat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhrāj (भ्राज् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (maṇi-विशेषण)

• maṇi-stambha-sahasra-śobhitam: adorned with thousands of jewel-pillars
• maṇi-stambha-sahasra-śobhitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + stambha (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + śobhita (कृदन्त; √śubh/śobh)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (maṇi-stambhānāṃ sahasreṇa śobhitam) bhavanam-विशेषण

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about divine palaces and transcendental opulence?

This verse describes a wondrous, intensely radiant palace adorned with thousands of shining jeweled pillars—showing that Bhagavata Purana portrays divine realms as spiritually dazzling and beyond ordinary material splendor.

Why is the water described as agitated by a powerful wind in this shloka?

The imagery of strong wind and great, moving waves heightens the sense of entering a mysterious, extraordinary realm, setting the scene for the revelation of a miraculous divine residence.

Practical application: what can a devotee learn from this description of wonder and brilliance?

A devotee can cultivate remembrance that the Lord’s domain is supremely beautiful and awe-inspiring, strengthening faith and detachment from ordinary attractions by focusing on higher, divine reality.