Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 33

Śrī Rāmacandra-avatāra — Vow, Exile, Laṅkā-vijaya, and Rāma-rājya

Concise Bhāgavata Account

Devanagari script

अवकीर्यमाण: सुकुसुमैर्लोकपालार्पितै: पथि । उपगीयमानचरित: शतधृत्यादिभिर्मुदा ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

avakīryamāṇaḥ sukusumair lokapālārpitaiḥ pathi upagīyamāna-caritaḥ śatadhṛty-ādibhir mudā

Translation

When Lord Rāmacandra returned to His capital, Ayodhyā, He was greeted on the road by the princely order, who showered His body with beautiful, fragrant flowers, while great personalities like Lord Brahmā and other demigods glorified the activities of the Lord in great jubilation.

Synonyms

• avakīryamāṇaḥ: being showered (upon)
• avakīryamāṇaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-kṝ (धातु)
• Form: Śānac/Present passive participle (शानच्, कर्मणि वर्तमान कृदन्त), Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (प्रथमा/1st case), Eka-vacana (एकवचन); agrees with subject (Rāma)

• su-kusumaiḥ: with beautiful flowers
• su-kusumaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + kusuma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (तृतीया/3rd case), Bahu-vacana (बहुवचन); samāsa: su-kusumāni (beautiful flowers)

• lokapāla-arpitaiḥ: offered by the guardians of the worlds
• lokapāla-arpitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lokapāla (प्रातिपदिक) + arpita (अर्प् धातु, क्त)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (तृतीया/3rd case), Bahu-vacana (बहुवचन); agrees with kusumaiḥ; samāsa: lokapālaiḥ arpitaiḥ (instrumental agent)

• pathi: on the way
• pathi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī vibhakti (सप्तमी/7th case), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• upagīyamāna-caritaḥ: whose deeds were being sung
• upagīyamāna-caritaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-gai (धातु) + gīyamāna (गी धातु, शानच् कर्मणि) + carita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (प्रथमा/1st case), Eka-vacana (एकवचन); samāsa: upagīyamānam caritam yasya saḥ (bahuvrīhi-like sense, but formed as tatpuruṣa in text)

• śatadhṛti-ādibhiḥ: by Indra and others
• śatadhṛti-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatadhṛti (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (तृतीया/3rd case), Bahu-vacana (बहुवचन); samāsa: śatadhṛtiḥ ādiḥ yeṣām te (ādi-compound)

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (तृतीया/3rd case), Eka-vacana (एकवचन); adverbial instrumental (भावे तृतीया)

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śatadhṛti/Śatakratu)
• Lokapālas (guardians of the worlds)

FAQs

Why do the demigods shower flowers and sing praises in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse shows that the guardians of the universe honor the Lord’s divine presence by offering flowers and glorifying His pastimes—devotional praise (kīrtana) is presented as a natural response to the Lord’s appearance and actions.

Who is Śatadhṛti in this Bhagavatam verse?

Śatadhṛti here refers to Indra (also known as Śatakratu), the king of heaven, who along with other devas joyfully sings the Lord’s celebrated deeds.

How can I apply this teaching of glorifying the Lord in modern life?

Offer simple devotion—hear and sing the Lord’s qualities and pastimes (kīrtana), and cultivate gratitude and reverence, just as the devas express joy through praise and offerings.