Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 24

Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Renunciation, Austerities, Departure, and the Glory of Hearing His History

Devanagari script

कुर्वत्य: कुसुमासारं तस्मिन्मन्दरसानुनि । नदत्स्वमरतूर्येषु गृणन्ति स्म परस्परम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

kurvatyaḥ kusumāsāraṁ tasmin mandara-sānuni nadatsv amara-tūryeṣu gṛṇanti sma parasparam

Translation

En ce moment-là, les devas se tenaient au sommet du mont Mandara, tandis que résonnaient les instruments célestes. Leurs épouses faisaient pleuvoir des fleurs sur le bûcher et se disaient entre elles ce qui suit.

Synonyms

• kurvatyaḥ: making
• kurvatyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Feminine, Nominative, Plural; ‘doing/making’ (referring to deva-patnyaḥ)

• kusuma-āsāram: a shower of flowers
• kusuma-āsāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kusuma (प्रातिपदिक) + āsāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘a shower (āsāra) of flowers (kusuma)’

• tasmin: in that (place)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; pronominal ‘in that’

• mandara-sānuni: on Mandara’s slope
• mandara-sānuni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandara (प्रातिपदिक) + sānu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘on the slope/peak (sānu) of Mandara’

• nadatsu: resounding
• nadatsu: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nad (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Neuter, Locative, Plural; ‘while sounding/resounding’ qualifying tūryeṣu

• amara-tūryeṣu: in the heavenly instruments
• amara-tūryeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक) + tūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Plural; tatpuruṣa: ‘in the divine instruments’

• gṛṇanti: they sang/praised
• gṛṇanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Plural; √गृ ‘to sing/praise’

• sma: indeed/then (past marker)
• sma: Kriyānuṣaṅga (क्रियानुषङ्ग/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (स्म-निपात) indicating past/continuative sense with present tense

• parasparam: mutually
• parasparam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Reciprocal adverb (अव्ययभाव) meaning ‘mutually/each other’

Characters & Entities

• Mandara (Mountain)
• Amaras (celestial beings/devas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about devas showering flowers?

This verse describes the devas expressing divine approval and celebration by raining flowers and playing celestial instruments while praising one another.

Why are celestial instruments mentioned in the departure of Pṛthu Mahārāja?

In the narrative of Pṛthu’s return to the spiritual goal, the resounding divine music signifies auspiciousness and honor for a great devotee-king at the culmination of his life.

Practical application: what does this teach about honoring devotion in modern life?

It highlights the value of recognizing sincere spiritual dedication—cultivating gratitude, celebrating virtue, and encouraging one another in devotional practice.