Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 7

The Appearance and Coronation of King Pṛthu (Pṛthu-avatāra) and His Humble Refusal of Premature Praise

Devanagari script

मैत्रेय उवाच प्रशंसन्ति स्म तं विप्रा गन्धर्वप्रवरा जगु: । मुमुचु: सुमनोधारा: सिद्धा नृत्यन्ति स्व:स्त्रिय: ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

maitreya uvāca praśaṁsanti sma taṁ viprā gandharva-pravarā jaguḥ mumucuḥ sumano-dhārāḥ siddhā nṛtyanti svaḥ-striyaḥ

Translation

Maitreya sprach: Lieber Vidura, damals priesen alle Brāhmaṇas König Pṛthu in höchsten Tönen; die besten Sänger aus Gandharvaloka besangen seine Herrlichkeiten. Die Bewohner Siddhalokas ließen Blumen herabregnen, und die schönen Frauen der Himmelswelten tanzten in Verzückung.

Synonyms

• मैत्रेयः: Maitreya
• मैत्रेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ऋषिनाम (proper name)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रशंसन्ति: praise
• प्रशंसन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्म: indeed/then (past marker)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपातः (particle indicating past/continuative sense)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विप्राः: brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• गन्धर्वप्रवराः: the foremost Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वप्रवराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व + प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘best among Gandharvas’

• जगुः: sang
• जगुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुमुचुः: released/let fall
• मुमुचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुमनोधाराः: streams of flowers
• सुमनोधाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमनस् + धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘streams of flowers’ (sumanas = flowers)

• सिद्धाः: the Siddhas
• सिद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; from सिध् धातु + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• नृत्यन्ति: dance
• नृत्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वःस्त्रियः: the heavenly women
• स्वःस्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वः + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘women of heaven’ (apsarases)

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Pṛthu Mahārāja
• Brāhmaṇas
• Gandharvas
• Siddhas
• Svarga-striyaḥ (heavenly women)

FAQs

Why do Gandharvas sing and flowers shower in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse, celestial singing and flower-showers mark divine approval and celebration when a dharmic personality (here, Pṛthu Mahārāja) is honored.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 4.15.7?

The speaker is Maitreya Ṛṣi, narrating the scene of Pṛthu Mahārāja being glorified by both sages and celestial beings.

What is a practical lesson from Bhagavatam 4.15.7 for modern life?

Honor and uplift righteous leadership and virtue—when one acts in dharma, genuine appreciation and support naturally arise from good people.