Shloka 8

Trikūṭa Mountain, Ṛtumat Garden, and the Beginning of Gajendra’s Crisis

Devanagari script

सरित्सरोभिरच्छोदै: पुलिनैर्मणिवालुकै: । देवस्त्रीमज्जनामोदसौरभाम्ब्वनिलैर्युत: ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

sarit-sarobhir acchodaiḥ pulinair maṇi-vālukaiḥ deva-strī-majjanāmoda- saurabhāmbv-anilair yutaḥ

Translation

Trikūṭa Mountain held many rivers and lakes, their shores strewn with tiny gems like grains of sand. The water was crystal-clear, and when the celestial maidens bathed there, their fragrance perfumed the water and the breeze, sweetening the whole atmosphere.

Synonyms

• सरित्-सरोभिः: with rivers and lakes
• सरित्-सरोभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक) + सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग-समाहार-द्वन्द्वः, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; ‘सरितश्च सरांसि च’

• अच्छोदैः: clear/limpid
• अच्छोदैः: करण-विशेषण (Instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्छोद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (सरित्सरोभिः)

• पुलिनैः: with sandbanks
• पुलिनैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मणि-वालुकैः: with jewel-like sands
• मणि-वालुकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + वालुका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (मणीनां वालुकाः / मणिमयी वालुका)

• देव-स्त्री-मज्जन-आमोद-सौरभ-अम्बु-अनिलैः: with breezes carrying the fragrant aroma from the bathing of celestial women in the water
• देव-स्त्री-मज्जन-आमोद-सौरभ-अम्बु-अनिलैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + मज्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + आमोद (प्रातिपदिक) + सौरभ (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘देवस्त्रीणां मज्जनात् आमोदः, तस्य सौरभं, तद्-अम्बु-सम्बन्धिनः अनिलाः’ इत्यर्थः

• युतः: endowed/filled
• युतः: विशेष्य-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु, PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘युक्त/समन्वित’

Purport

Even in the material world, there are many grades of living entities. The human beings on earth generally cover themselves with external fragrances to stop their bad bodily odors, but here we find that because of the bodily fragrance of the demigod damsels, the rivers, the lakes, the breeze and the entire atmosphere of Trikūṭa Mountain also become fragrant. Since the bodies of the damsels in the upper planetary systems are so beautiful, we can just imagine how beautifully formed are the bodies of the Vaikuṇṭha damsels or the damsels in Vṛndāvana, the gopīs.

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam describe about the lake where Gajendra lived?

It describes a pristine, beautiful lake-region with clear waters, jewel-like sandy banks, and fragrant breezes scented by celestial women bathing—setting the scene for Gajendra’s later ordeal and surrender.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing the scenery in Canto 8 Chapter 2?

He is establishing the sacred and opulent setting of Trikūṭa’s lake, making the contrast sharper when calamity strikes Gajendra and highlighting that even in heavenly surroundings one must seek refuge in the Lord.

Practical application: what can this verse teach in modern life?

Even when life looks comfortable and “perfect,” danger and change can arrive; cultivate remembrance of God and inner surrender rather than relying only on external security.