Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 15

Śaryāti, Sukanyā, Cyavana Muni, the Aśvinī-kumāras, and Kakudmī-Revatī

Baladeva Marriage

Devanagari script

पुरुषास्त्रय उत्तस्थुरपीव्या वनिताप्रिया: । पद्मस्रज: कुण्डलिनस्तुल्यरूपा: सुवासस: ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

puruṣās traya uttasthur apīvyā vanitā-priyāḥ padma-srajaḥ kuṇḍalinas tulya-rūpāḥ suvāsasaḥ

Translation

ثم خرج من البحيرة ثلاثة رجال ذوو هيئة بالغة الجمال. كانوا في ثياب حسنة، متحلّين بالأقراط ومتقلّدين بأكاليل من زهور اللوتس؛ وكان الثلاثة متساوين في الحسن والبهاء.

Synonyms

• puruṣāḥ: men/persons
• puruṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• uttasthuḥ: stood up/arose
• uttasthuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-sthā (धाातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• apīvyāḥ: very youthful/beautiful
• apīvyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apīvyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; गुणवाचक (descriptive)

• vanitā-priyāḥ: dear to women
• vanitā-priyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vanitā (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vanitāyāḥ priyaḥ)

• padma-srajaḥ: wearing lotus-garlands
• padma-srajaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + sraj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (padmasya srajaḥ)

• kuṇḍalinaḥ: wearing earrings
• kuṇḍalinaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuṇḍalin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; मतुप्-अर्थक (possessing earrings)

• tulya-rūpāḥ: of similar appearance
• tulya-rūpāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (tulyaṃ rūpaṃ yeṣām)

• su-vāsasaḥ: well-clothed
• su-vāsasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (sundaraṃ vāsas yeṣām)

Characters & Entities

• Sukanyā
• Cyavana Muni
• Aśvinī-kumāras

FAQs

Who are the three identical, well-adorned men described in Bhagavatam 9.3.15?

They are the Aśvinī-kumāras (the divine twin physicians), appearing with equal beauty and splendid ornaments in the narrative involving Sukanyā and Cyavana Muni.

Why does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe their ornaments like lotus garlands and earrings?

The verse emphasizes their celestial splendor and attractiveness, setting the scene for Sukanyā’s test of fidelity and the unfolding of dharmic choices in the episode.

What practical lesson can we take from this verse about beauty and attraction?

External charm can be powerful and distracting; the Bhagavatam repeatedly points seekers toward steadiness in dharma and loyalty to righteous commitments over temporary allure.