Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 20

Kardama Muni’s Mystic Opulence, Devahūti’s Rejuvenation, and the Turning Toward Fearlessness

Devanagari script

हंसपारावतव्रातैस्तत्र तत्र निकूजितम् । कृत्रिमान् मन्यमानै: स्वानधिरुह्याधिरुह्य च ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

haṁsa-pārāvata-vrātais tatra tatra nikūjitam kṛtrimān manyamānaiḥ svān adhiruhyādhiruhya ca

Translation

Here and there in that palace were multitudes of live swans and pigeons, as well as artificial swans and pigeons so lifelike that the real swans rose above them again and again, thinking them live birds like themselves. Thus the palace vibrated with the sounds of these birds.

Synonyms

• हंस-पारावत-व्रातैः: by flocks of swans and pigeons
• हंस-पारावत-व्रातैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक) + पारावत (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—हंसानां पारावतानां च व्रातैः (determinative)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• तत्र: here and there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति—‘here and there’ अर्थे

• निकूजितम्: resounding/filled with cooing
• निकूजितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि√कूज् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(स्थानं) निकूजितम्’

• कृत्रिमान्: artificial (ones)
• कृत्रिमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्रिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘कृत्रिमान् (विहगान्/ध्वनिन्)’ इति

• मन्यमानैः: by those thinking/considering
• मन्यमानैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘मन्यमानैः (जनैः)’

• स्वान्: their own
• स्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; स्वकीयान् (one’s own)

• अधिरुह्य: having mounted
• अधिरुह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि√रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having mounted’

• अधिरुह्य: mounting repeatedly
• अधिरुह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि√रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति—‘again and again mounting’ अर्थे

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kardama Muni’s opulence after marriage?

This verse shows the extraordinary, almost otherworldly beauty of Kardama’s residence—so lifelike that even the birds’ sounds seemed like crafted art, highlighting the splendor surrounding Devahūti’s new life.

Why were people thinking the swans and pigeons were artificial in Canto 3?

Because the setting was so exquisitely arranged and astonishing that the birds and their cooing appeared like deliberate, man-made decorations rather than natural life.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

It reminds a devotee that genuine spiritual culture can refine one’s environment and senses—beauty and order can be engaged in dharma without losing sight of devotion.