Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 14

Duryodhana’s Envy at Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya and the Avabhṛtha Festival

Devanagari script

स्वलङ्कृता नरा नार्यो गन्धस्रग्भूषणाम्बरै: । विलिम्पन्त्योऽभिसिञ्चन्त्यो विजह्रुर्विविधै रसै: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

sv-alaṇkṛtā narā nāryo gandha-srag-bhūṣaṇāmbaraiḥ vilimpantyo ’bhisiñcantyo vijahrur vividhai rasaiḥ

Translation

Men and women, adorned with sandalwood paste, flower garlands, ornaments, and fine garments, sported by smearing and sprinkling one another with various liquids.

Synonyms

• su-alaṅkṛtāḥ: well-adorned
• su-alaṅkṛtāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्) of narāḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + alaṅkṛta (कृदन्त; √alaṅkṛ/अलङ्कृ)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; kta-participle used adjectivally

• narāḥ: men
• narāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• nāryaḥ: women
• nāryaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• gandha-srag-bhūṣaṇa-ambaraiḥ: with perfumes, garlands, ornaments, and garments
• gandha-srag-bhūṣaṇa-ambaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + sraj/srag (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; samāsa: itaretara-dvandva ‘perfumes, garlands, ornaments, garments’

• vilimpantyaḥ: smearing
• vilimpantyaḥ: Kartṛ-sāmānādhikaraṇya (agreeing with nāryaḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vilimpant (कृदन्त; √lip/लिप् with vi-)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle/शतृ), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ‘smearing (themselves/others)’

• abhisiñcantyaḥ: sprinkling
• abhisiñcantyaḥ: Kartṛ-sāmānādhikaraṇya (agreeing with nāryaḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhisiñcant (कृदन्त; √sic/सिच् with abhi-)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle/शतृ), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ‘sprinkling’

• vijahruḥ: played / sported
• vijahruḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (धातु) with vi-; desiderative/iterative sense in root-class ‘to sport’ (vijahruḥ)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/लिट्), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; ‘they played/sported’

• vividhaiḥ: various
• vividhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्) of rasaiḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga/Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; agrees with rasaiḥ

• rasaiḥ: with liquids/juices (playful sprinklings)
• rasaiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about celebration during the Rājasūya sacrifice?

In Canto 10, Chapter 75, this verse describes how the assembled men and women, richly adorned, joyfully played by smearing and sprinkling one another with various pleasing liquids as part of the festive celebration.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe people smearing and sprinkling one another in this chapter?

Śukadeva is narrating the atmosphere of exuberant celebration surrounding Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya sacrifice, showing the public joy and auspicious festivity taking place at that time.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

It highlights that wholesome joy, beauty, and community celebration can be spiritual when centered around dharmic occasions—encouraging devotees to celebrate sacred events with purity, gratitude, and harmony.