Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

स्वराजधानीं समलङ्‍कृतां ध्वजै: सतोरणैरुक्षितमार्गचत्वराम् । विवेश शङ्खानकदुन्दुभिस्वनै- रभ्युद्यत: पौरसुहृद्‌‌द्विजातिभि: ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

sva-rājadhānīṁ samalaṅkṛtāṁ dhvajaiḥ sa-toraṇair ukṣita-mārga-catvarām viveśa śaṅkhānaka-dundubhi-svanair abhyudyataḥ paura-suhṛd-dvijātibhiḥ

Translation

The Lord then entered His capital, lavishly adorned with flags and victory arches, its avenues and crossroads sprinkled with water. As conchshells, ānakas and dundubhi drums resounded, His relatives, the brāhmaṇas and the townspeople came forward to greet Him with reverence.

Synonyms

• स्वराजधानीम्: his own capital city
• स्वराजधानीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + राजधानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: स्व-राजधानी (कर्मधारय: ‘one’s own capital’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative Singular)

• समलङ्कृताम्: well-decorated
• समलङ्कृताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-अलङ्कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘well-adorned’

• ध्वजैः: with flags
• ध्वजैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental Plural)

• सतोरणैः: with gateways/arches
• सतोरणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-तोरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: स + तोरण (सह-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental Plural)

• उक्षितमार्गचत्वराम्: whose roads and squares were sprinkled (with water)
• उक्षितमार्गचत्वराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्षित + मार्ग + चत्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: उक्षित-मार्ग-चत्वरा (तत्पुरुष; ‘whose streets and squares are sprinkled’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विवेश: entered
• विवेश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg)

• शङ्खानकदुन्दुभिस्वनैः: with the sounds of conches, kettle-drums, and drums
• शङ्खानकदुन्दुभिस्वनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख + आनक + दुन्दुभि + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: शङ्ख-आनक-दुन्दुभि (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व) + स्वन (तत्पुरुष: ‘sound of ...’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental Plural)

• अभ्युद्यतः: being risen (to greet)
• अभ्युद्यतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-उद्-यम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘risen up/standing up (to greet)’

• पौरसुहृद्द्विजातिभिः: by citizens, well-wishers, and brāhmaṇas
• पौरसुहृद्द्विजातिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर + सुहृद् + द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: पौर-सुहृद्-द्विजाति (समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘citizens, friends, and twice-born’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental Plural)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Dvārakā-vāsīs (citizens of Dvārakā)
• Brāhmaṇas (dvijas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about welcoming the Lord when He returns?

This verse describes Dvārakā being decorated and the citizens, well-wishers, and brāhmaṇas rising to receive Śrī Kṛṣṇa, showing that loving reception and honor to the Lord is natural devotion.

Why were conches and drums sounded when Krishna entered Dvaraka?

The instruments proclaimed auspiciousness and public joy, marking Kṛṣṇa’s victorious return and the community’s devotional celebration of His presence.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Create a devotional atmosphere—cleanliness, beauty, and sacred sound—and actively honor saintly persons and the Lord through heartfelt welcome, gratitude, and community worship.