Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 13

Bali Mahārāja’s Empowerment and Conquest of Indra’s City

Prelude to Vāmana’s Petition

Devanagari script

हंससारसचक्राह्वकारण्डवकुलाकुला: । नलिन्यो यत्र क्रीडन्ति प्रमदा: सुरसेविता: ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

haṁsa-sārasa-cakrāhva- kāraṇḍava-kulākulāḥ nalinyo yatra krīḍanti pramadāḥ sura-sevitāḥ

Translation

There were lotus ponds thronged with swans, cranes, cakravākas, and ducks, and within those gardens beautiful maidens, protected by the devas, sported in delight.

Synonyms

• हंस: of swans
• हंस: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; member in compound

• सारस: of cranes
• सारस: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; member in compound

• चक्राह्व: of cakravāka birds
• चक्राह्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्राह्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; member in compound (cakravāka birds)

• कारण्डव: of ducks
• कारण्डव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; member in compound

• कुल: by flocks/groups
• कुल: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; in compound with ākulāḥ

• आकुलाः: crowded, filled
• आकुलाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; qualifying nalinyaḥ; compound sense: haṁsa-sārasa-cakrāhva-kāraṇḍava-kulākulāḥ = ‘crowded with flocks of …’

• नलिन्यः: lotus-ponds
• नलिन्यः: Ādhāra/Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नलिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikaraṇa-dyotaka (अधिकरण-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• क्रीडन्ति: play, sport
• क्रीडन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• प्रमदाः: women, maidens
• प्रमदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• सुर: by gods
• सुर: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; in compound relation with sevitāḥ

• सेविताः: served, attended
• सेविताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; sura-sevitāḥ = तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (‘served by the gods’), qualifying pramadāḥ

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the beauty of Svarga (heavenly planets)?

This verse depicts Svarga’s lotus lakes crowded with auspicious water-birds, where celestial maidens play—showing the refined, sense-pleasing beauty found in the demigods’ realms.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing lotus lakes, birds, and celestial maidens in Canto 8?

He is setting the scene of the heavenly domains connected with the demigods before narrating the Deva–Asura conflict, contrasting celestial opulence with the impermanence of material enjoyment.

What is the practical application of this shloka for modern life?

Even the most attractive pleasures—like heavenly beauty and entertainment—remain worldly; the verse encourages cultivating higher, lasting spiritual aims beyond temporary enjoyment.