Shloka 46

Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ

Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony

Devanagari script

धवककुभकदम्बनारिकेलै: कुरबककेतकजम्बुपाटलाभि: । वटवरुणकवत्सना भबिल्वै: सरलकपित्थप्रियालसालतालै:

Transliteration

dhavakkubhakadambanārikelaiḥ kurabakaketakajambupāṭalābhiḥ | vaṭavaruṇakavatsanā bhabilvaiḥ saralakapitthapriyālasālatālaiḥ ||

Translation

Vāsudeva said: The hermitage was adorned by many kinds of wild forest trees that bore flowers and fruits—dhava, kakubha, kadamba, coconut, kurabaka, ketaka, jambū, pāṭala, banyan, varuṇaka, vatsanābha, bilva, śarala, kapittha, priyāla, śāla, and tāla. It was spread over with blossoms, shrubs, and creepers, and groves of banana plants enhanced its beauty still further.

Word by Word

• धव: with dhava trees
• धव: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• ककुभ: with kakubha (arjuna) trees
• ककुभ: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ककुभ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कदम्ब: with kadamba trees
• कदम्ब: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदम्ब
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नारिकेल: with coconut trees
• नारिकेल: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारिकेल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कुरबक: with kurabaka plants/trees
• कुरबक: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरबक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• केतक: with ketaka (screw-pine) plants
• केतक: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• जम्बु: with jambu (rose-apple) trees
• जम्बु: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जम्बु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पाटल: with pāṭala trees
• पाटल: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाटल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वट: with banyan trees
• वट: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वट
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वरुणक: with varuṇaka trees
• वरुणक: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुणक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वत्सनाभ: with vatsanābha trees/plants
• वत्सनाभ: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सनाभ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• बबिल्व: with ba-bilva (bilva variety) trees
• बबिल्व: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बबिल्व
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सरल: with śarala (pine/deodar) trees
• सरल: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कपित्थ: with kapittha (wood-apple) trees
• कपित्थ: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपित्थ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रियाल: with priyāla trees
• प्रियाल: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रियाल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• साल: with śāla trees
• साल: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: साल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• ताल: with tāla (palm) trees
• ताल: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• dhava tree
• kakubha (arjuna) tree
• kadamba tree
• coconut (nārikela)
• kurabaka
• ketaka
• jambū (jamun)
• pāṭala
• banyan (vaṭa)
• varuṇaka
• vatsanābha
• bilva
• śarala
• kapittha
• priyāla
• śāla
• tāla

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse conveys the ideal of an āśrama as a harmonious, life-sustaining space—rich in fruit and flowers—suggesting that dharmic living is supported by simplicity, abundance without violence, and reverence for the natural order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāsudeva is describing the beauty and richness of a hermitage: it is surrounded by many varieties of trees and plants, creating an auspicious and serene setting for the events and teachings that follow.