Shloka 4

Rāsa-līlā Begins; Divine Multiplication; Moral Doubt and Its Resolution

Devanagari script

ततो दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्निपेतु: पुष्पवृष्टय: । जगुर्गन्धर्वपतय: सस्त्रीकास्तद्यशोऽमलम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

tato dundubhayo nedur nipetuḥ puṣpa-vṛṣṭayaḥ jagur gandharva-patayaḥ sa-strīkās tad-yaśo ’malam

Translation

Alors les timbales retentirent dans le ciel et une pluie de fleurs tomba. Les chefs des Gandharvas, avec leurs épouses, chantèrent les gloires sans tache du Seigneur Kṛṣṇa.

Synonyms

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/अनन्तरार्थक (temporal adverb: ‘then/thereafter’)

• दुन्दुभयः: kettledrums
• दुन्दुभयः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन

• नेदुः: resounded
• नेदुः: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person); बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• निपेतुः: fell down
• निपेतुः: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person); बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुष्प-वृष्टयः: showers of flowers
• पुष्प-वृष्टयः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुष्पाणां वृष्टयः)

• जगुः: sang
• जगुः: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथम-पुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• गन्धर्व-पतयः: lords of the Gandharvas
• गन्धर्व-पतयः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गन्धर्वाणां पतयः)

• स-स्त्रीकाः: together with (their) wives
• स-स्त्रीकाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्रीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव (सह स्त्रीभिः = ‘with their wives’)

• तत्-यशः: his fame/glory
• तत्-यशः: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभावार्थ-तत्पुरुष (‘his fame’)

• अमलम्: spotless/pure
• अमलम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण (यशसः)

Purport

As stated here, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s glory in dancing the rāsa dance is pure spiritual bliss. The demigods in heaven, in charge of maintaining propriety in the universe, ecstatically accepted the rāsa dance as the ultimate religious affair, completely different from the perverted reflection of romance we find in this mundane world.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Gandharvas

FAQs

Why do celestial drums and flower showers appear in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

They signify divine celebration and approval—heavenly beings honor Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental līlā by music and flower offerings.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavata Purana 10.33.4?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while describing the unfolding of the rāsa-līlā.

What is the practical takeaway of Gandharvas singing Kṛṣṇa’s pure glory?

Even the exalted celebrate by glorification (kīrtana); in modern life, one can cultivate devotion by regularly hearing and chanting Kṛṣṇa’s names and qualities.