Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 22

The Kingdom of God (Vaikuṇṭha) and the Curse of Jaya and Vijaya

Devanagari script

वापीषु विद्रुमतटास्वमलामृताप्सु प्रेष्यान्विता निजवने तुलसीभिरीशम् । अभ्यर्चती स्वलकमुन्नसमीक्ष्य वक्त्र- मुच्छेषितं भगवतेत्यमताङ्ग यच्छ्री: ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

vāpīṣu vidruma-taṭāsv amalāmṛtāpsu preṣyānvitā nija-vane tulasībhir īśam abhyarcatī svalakam unnasam īkṣya vaktram uccheṣitaṁ bhagavatety amatāṅga yac-chrīḥ

Translation

Die Glücksgöttinnen verehren den Herrn in ihren eigenen Gärten, an korallgepflasterten Ufern transzendenter Becken mit reinem Amṛta-Wasser, indem sie zusammen mit ihren Dienerinnen Tulasi-Blätter darbringen. Während der Verehrung sehen sie im Wasser das Spiegelbild ihrer schönen, hochgezogenen Nasen und meinen, ihre Anmut sei gewachsen, als hätte der Bhagavān ihre Gesichter geküsst.

Synonyms

• vāpīṣu: in the ponds
• vāpīṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāpī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vidruma-taṭāsu: on the coral banks
• vidruma-taṭāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidruma + taṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) [taṭā-], सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): vidrumasya taṭāḥ

• amalāmṛta-apsu: in the pure, nectar-like waters
• amalāmṛta-apsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amala + amṛta + ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) [ap-], सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय-समास: amalā amṛtā āpaḥ (pure, nectar-like waters)

• preṣya-anvitā: accompanied by attendants
• preṣya-anvitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: preṣya + anvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थ (associative): preṣyaiḥ anvitā = attended by servants

• nija-vane: in her own grove
• nija-vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nija + vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: nijaṃ vanaṃ

• tulasībhiḥ: with tulasī leaves
• tulasībhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• īśam: the Lord
• īśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• abhyarcatī: worships
• abhyarcatī: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√arc (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद; वर्तमानकाले (present action)

• sva-lakam: her own share/portion
• sva-lakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + laka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: svaṃ lakaṃ (own portion/own share)

• unnasam: with raised nose (prominent-nosed)
• unnasam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: unnasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier) of vaktram

• īkṣya: having looked at
• īkṣya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive): īkṣya = having looked

• vaktram: face
• vaktram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• uccheṣitam: leftover (remnant)
• uccheṣitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uccheṣita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) from √śiṣ/√śeṣ (to remain): 'left over'

• bhagavate: for the Blessed Lord
• bhagavate: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• amata-aṅga: O dear one
• amata-aṅga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: amata + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle): aṅga; amata = 'O dear/undeluded' (contextual epithet)

• yat-śrīḥ: she whose splendor/fortune is (such)
• yat-śrīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat + śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि: yasya śrīḥ (she whose beauty/fortune is ...)

Purport

Generally, when a woman is kissed by her husband, her face becomes more beautiful. In Vaikuṇṭha also, although the goddess of fortune is naturally as beautiful as can be imagined, she nevertheless awaits the kissing of the Lord to make her face more beautiful. The beautiful face of the goddess of fortune appears in ponds of transcendental crystal water when she worships the Lord with tulasī leaves in her garden.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī (Lakṣmī-devī)
• Bhagavān (Nārāyaṇa/Vishnu)
• Tulasī-devī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lakshmi worshiping Narayana in Vaikuntha?

This verse describes Śrī Lakṣmī-devī personally worshiping the Supreme Lord in Vaikuṇṭha with tulasī, absorbed in loving devotion while beholding His face.

Why is tulasi emphasized in Canto 3 Chapter 15 of the Bhagavatam?

Tulasī is highlighted as a uniquely dear offering to Bhagavān, representing pure devotion; even Lakṣmī serves the Lord with tulasī in the spiritual realm.

Practical application of Vaikuntha devotion in modern life?

Offer sincere worship with purity and humility—especially tulasī (where appropriate)—and cultivate loving remembrance of the Lord rather than ritual alone.