Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 38

Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat

Devanagari script

शङ्खदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्भेरीतूर्याण्यनेकश: । वीणावेणुमृदङ्गानि पुरं प्रविशति प्रभौ ॥ ३७ ॥ सिक्तमार्गां हृष्टजनां पताकाभिरभ्यलङ्कृताम् । निर्घुष्टां ब्रह्मघोषेण कौतुकाबद्धतोरणाम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

śaṅkha-dundubhayo nedur bherī-tūryāṇy anekaśaḥ vīṇā-veṇu-mṛdaṅgāni puraṁ praviśati prabhau

Translation

As the Lord entered His city, conchshells and dundubhi kettledrums resounded; bhērīs and tūryas, many drums, vīṇās, flutes and mṛdaṅgas played in unison. The boulevards were sprinkled with water, banners flew everywhere, and the gateways were adorned with festive toranas; the citizens rejoiced, and the city echoed with the brahma-ghoṣa—chanting of Vedic hymns.

Synonyms

• śaṅkha-dundubhayaḥ: conches and kettledrums
• śaṅkha-dundubhayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व)

• neduḥ: sounded
• neduḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nad (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• bherī-tūryāṇi: kettledrums and trumpets
• bherī-tūryāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bherī (प्रातिपदिक) + tūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः

• anekaśaḥ: in many ways / repeatedly
• anekaśaḥ: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anekaśas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/आवृत्ति-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• vīṇā-veṇu-mṛdaṅgāni: lutes, flutes, and drums
• vīṇā-veṇu-mṛdaṅgāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + veṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛdaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective)

• puram: the city
• puram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• praviśati: enters
• praviśati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• prabhau: when/while the Lord (was entering)
• prabhau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी/अधिकरण (locative setting)

• sikta-mārgām: (the city) with sprinkled streets
• sikta-mārgām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sikta (कृदन्त; √sic, धातु) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः; (agreeing with purīm understood)

• hṛṣṭa-janām: (the city) whose people were delighted
• hṛṣṭa-janām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √hṛṣ, धातु) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः; (agreeing with purīm understood)

• patākābhiḥ: with flags
• patākābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• abhyalaṅkṛtām: adorned
• abhyalaṅkṛtām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-alaṅkṛ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः; (agreeing with purīm understood)

• nirghuṣṭām: resounding
• nirghuṣṭām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-ghuṣ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (agreeing with purīm understood)

• brahma-ghoṣeṇa: with Vedic chanting
• brahma-ghoṣeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + ghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (brahmaṇaḥ ghoṣaḥ)

• kautuka-ābaddha-toraṇām: (the city) with festively tied gateways/arches
• kautuka-ābaddha-toraṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kautuka (प्रातिपदिक) + ābaddha (कृदन्त; √bandh, धातु) + toraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (kautukena ābaddhāni toraṇāni yasyām)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe when Krishna enters a city?

This verse depicts Krishna’s entrance being welcomed with auspicious sounds—conches, drums, trumpets, and instruments—showing the city’s devotional joy and reverence for the Lord.

Why are conch shells and drums mentioned in Krishna’s pastimes?

They signify auspiciousness, victory, and public celebration; the Bhagavatam uses these sounds to portray collective devotion and the festive reception of the Supreme Lord.

Practical application: how can this verse be lived today?

Welcome the Lord into daily life through devotional sound—kīrtana, prayer, and sacred music—transforming ordinary moments into offerings of joy and remembrance.