Shloka 18

Devahūti’s Prayers, Kapila’s Departure, and Devahūti’s Liberation

Siddhapada

Devanagari script

गृहोद्यानं कुसुमितै रम्यं बह्वमरद्रुमै: । कूजद्विहङ्गमिथुनं गायन्मत्तमधुव्रतम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

gṛhodyānaṁ kusumitai ramyaṁ bahv-amara-drumaiḥ kūjad-vihaṅga-mithunaṁ gāyan-matta-madhuvratam

Translation

L’enceinte était entourée de jardins ravissants, fleuris de corolles parfumées et de nombreux arbres hauts, beaux et chargés de fruits frais. Des couples d’oiseaux y chantaient sur les branches, et le bourdonnement des abeilles enivrées de nectar rendait l’atmosphère délicieusement agréable.

Synonyms

• gṛha-udyānam: the house-garden
• gṛha-udyānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक) + udyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Prathamā (Nom. 1) / Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); here as described entity (subject/topic)

• kusumitaiḥ: with blossoming (trees)
• kusumitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kusumita (प्रातिपदिक; √kusum ita)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.)/Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Bahuvacana (pl.); instrumental of accompaniment/means qualifying (drumaiḥ implied)

• ramyam: delightful
• ramyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Prathamā (Nom. 1) / Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); विशेषण qualifying gṛhodyānam

• bahu-amara-drumaiḥ: with many celestial trees
• bahu-amara-drumaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + amara (प्रातिपदिक) + druma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Bahuvacana (pl.); 'with many divine trees'

• kūjat-vihaṅga-mithunam: (having) cooing pairs of birds
• kūjat-vihaṅga-mithunam: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūjat (प्रातिपदिक; √kūj शतृ) + vihaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + mithuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Prathamā (Nom. 1) / Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); head mithuna 'pair/flock' qualified by vihaṅga and kūjat

• gāyat: singing
• gāyat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gai (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya (present active participle), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.), Napuṃsaka used adjectivally to qualify madhuvratam

• matta-madhuvratam: intoxicated bees
• matta-madhuvratam: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक) + madhuvrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Prathamā (Nom. 1) / Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); madhuvrata = 'bee', qualified by matta

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahūti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the atmosphere of a saint’s āśrama?

This verse depicts the āśrama’s garden as naturally beautiful and spiritually uplifting—full of divine trees, sweet birdsong, and humming bees—suggesting that holy places nourish devotion through purity and harmony.

Why is Kapila Muni’s residence described with such beauty in Canto 3?

Śukadeva describes the serene, auspicious setting to show the sanctity of Kapila’s presence and the devotional mood in which Devahūti approached him for transcendental instruction.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

Create a calm, clean, and nature-friendly space for sādhana—through simplicity, beauty, and mindful sound—so the environment supports remembrance of the Lord and steady bhakti.