Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 4

Āgnīdhra Meets Pūrvacitti and Begets the Nine Sons of Jambūdvīpa

Devanagari script

सा च तदाश्रमोपवनमतिरमणीयं विविधनिबिडविटपिविटपनिकरसंश्लिष्टपुरटलतारूढस्थलविहङ्गममिथुनै: प्रोच्यमानश्रुतिभि: प्रतिबोध्यमानसलिलकुक्कुटकारण्डवकलहंसादिभिर्विचित्रमुपकूजितामलजलाशयकमलाकरमुपबभ्राम ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

sā ca tad-āśramopavanam ati-ramaṇīyaṁ vividha-nibiḍa-viṭapi-viṭapa-nikara-saṁśliṣṭa-puraṭa-latārūḍha-sthala-vihaṅgama-mithunaiḥ procyamāna-śrutibhiḥ pratibodhyamāna-salila-kukkuṭa-kāraṇḍava-kalahaṁsādibhir vicitram upakūjitāmala-jalāśaya-kamalākaram upababhrāma.

Translation

The Apsarā sent by Brahmā began to stroll in a most enchanting grove near the āśrama where the King was absorbed in worship and meditation. Dense green foliage and golden creepers adorned it; pairs of birds sang sweetly, and in a clear lake filled with lotus blooms, ducks and swans voiced melodious calls—making the park splendid in every way.

Synonyms

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; pronoun ‘she’

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• tat-āśrama-upavanam: that hermitage-grove
• tat-āśrama-upavanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम) + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + upavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘that hermitage’s grove’

• ati-ramaṇīyam: very charming
• ati-ramaṇīyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + ramaṇīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; adjective to upavanam; अव्ययीभाव: ‘exceedingly delightful’

• vividha-nibiḍa-viṭapi-viṭapa-nikara-saṁśliṣṭa-puraṭa-latā-rūḍha-sthala-vihaṅgama-mithunaiḥ: with (by means of) pairs of birds amid intertwined trees and golden creepers
• vividha-nibiḍa-viṭapi-viṭapa-nikara-saṁśliṣṭa-puraṭa-latā-rūḍha-sthala-vihaṅgama-mithunaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)+nibiḍa (प्रातिपदिक)+viṭapi (प्रातिपदिक)+viṭapa (प्रातिपदिक)+nikara (प्रातिपदिक)+saṁśliṣṭa (क्त-प्रत्यय from saṁ√śliṣ)+puraṭa (प्रातिपदिक)+latā (प्रातिपदिक)+rūḍha (क्त from √ruh)+sthala (प्रातिपदिक)+vihaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)+mithuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); long determinative compound qualifying the grove: ‘by pairs of birds on the ground, mounted on golden creepers intertwined with clusters of various dense trees/branches’

• procyamāna-śrutibhiḥ: by the uttered sounds
• procyamāna-śrutibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: procyamāna (मान-प्रत्यय; passive pres. part. from pra√vac/वच्) + śruti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental, Plural; ‘by sounds/notes being uttered’ (passive participle qualifying śruti)

• pratibodhyamāna-salila-kukkuṭa-kāraṇḍava-kalahaṁsa-ādibhiḥ: by water-birds (etc.) calling/responding
• pratibodhyamāna-salila-kukkuṭa-kāraṇḍava-kalahaṁsa-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratibodhyamāna (मान; passive pres. part. from prati√budh) + salila (प्रातिपदिक)+kukkuṭa (प्रातिपदिक)+kāraṇḍava (प्रातिपदिक)+kalahaṁsa (प्रातिपदिक)+ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental, Plural; ‘by waterfowl such as cocks, kāraṇḍavas, and swans that were being roused/awakening (others)’

• vicitram: variegated/wondrous
• vicitram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifying upavanam

• upakūjita-amala-jalāśaya-kamalākaram: with pure ponds and lotus-groves, softly resounding
• upakūjita-amala-jalāśaya-kamalākaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upakūjita (क्त from upa√kūj) + amala (प्रातिपदिक) + jalāśaya (प्रातिपदिक) + kamalākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; compound qualifying upavanam: ‘having lotus-beds in spotless reservoirs, resounding with soft cooing’

• upababhrāma: wandered/roamed
• upababhrāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa√bhram (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada; ‘wandered about’

FAQs

What does Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.2.4 describe?

It poetically describes the extraordinary beauty of the hermitage grove—dense trees and creepers, pure lotus-filled ponds, and birds whose calls seem like Vedic recitation—showing the sanctity of the āśrama environment.

Who is speaking this verse in the Bhagavata Purana?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this description to King Parīkṣit as part of the account connected with Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s setting in Canto 5, Chapter 2.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

It highlights the value of a sattvic, peaceful environment—nature, cleanliness, and sacred sound—as supportive conditions for remembrance of God and steady spiritual practice.