Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 26

Brahmā Counsels the Demigods; Journey to Kailāsa; Śiva’s Tranquility and Brahmā’s Praise

Devanagari script

ययोस्तत्स्‍नानविभ्रष्टनवकुङ्कुमपिञ्जरम् । वितृषोऽपि पिबन्त्यम्भ: पाययन्तो गजा गजी: ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

yayos tat-snāna-vibhraṣṭa- nava-kuṅkuma-piñjaram vitṛṣo ’pi pibanty ambhaḥ pāyayanto gajā gajīḥ

Translation

Nachdem die himmlischen Jungfrauen gebadet haben, wird das Wasser gelblich und duftend, weil frisches Kuṅkuma von ihren Körpern hineingelangt. Darum kommen die Elefanten mit ihren Elefantenkühen, baden dort und trinken das Wasser selbst ohne Durst.

Synonyms

• yayoḥ: of which (two rivers)
• yayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), द्विवचन

• tat-snāna-vibhraṣṭa-nava-kuṅkuma-piñjaram: tinged reddish by fresh saffron washed off by bathing there
• tat-snāna-vibhraṣṭa-nava-kuṅkuma-piñjaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhraṣṭa (कृदन्त; भ्रंश्/भ्रश् धातोः क्त) + nava (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṅkuma (प्रातिपदिक) + piñjara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (determinative: ‘reddish due to fresh saffron washed off by their bathing there’)

• vitṛṣaḥ: thirstless
• vitṛṣaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-tṛṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (free from thirst)

• api: even
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि (even/also)

• pibanti: they drink
• pibanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• ambhaḥ: water
• ambhaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• pāyayantaḥ: making (others) drink
• pāyayantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative धातु ‘पायय’ + शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• gajāḥ: elephants (males)
• gajāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• gajīḥ: female elephants
• gajīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gajī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• gajāḥ (male elephants)
• gajīḥ (female elephants)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 4.6.26 describe?

It describes auspicious, fragrant water colored by fresh kuṅkuma from bathing, so attractive that even the unthirsty drank it, with male elephants offering it to female elephants.

Who is speaking in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 4 Chapter 6?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these events to King Parīkṣit, describing the scene connected with Dakṣa’s sacrifice.

What practical lesson can a devotee take from this verse?

The verse highlights how purity, auspiciousness, and sacred atmosphere naturally uplift living beings—reminding practitioners to cultivate sanctity in daily life through clean habits, devotion, and holy association.