Shloka 9

Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī

Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

पुरं सम्मृष्टसंसिक्तमार्गरथ्याचतुष्पथम् । चित्रध्वजपताकाभिस्तोरणै: समलङ्कृतम् ॥ ८ ॥ स्रग्गन्धमाल्याभरणैर्विरजोऽम्बरभूषितै: । जुष्टं स्‍त्रीपुरुषै: श्रीमद्गृहैरगुरुधूपितै: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

puraṁ sammṛṣṭa-saṁsikta- mārga-rathyā-catuṣpatham citra-dhvaja-patākābhis toraṇaiḥ samalaṅkṛtam

Translation

Raja menyuruh jalan-jalan utama, ruas niaga, dan perempatan kota disapu bersih lalu diperciki air, serta menghiasi kota dengan gerbang kemenangan dan panji-panji berwarna-warni. Para pria dan wanita kota mengenakan busana tanpa noda, diurapi wangi cendana, memakai kalung, rangkaian bunga, dan perhiasan permata; rumah-rumah megah mereka dipenuhi aroma dupa aguru.

Synonyms

• puram: the city
• puram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• sammṛṣṭa: well-swept
• sammṛṣṭa: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + mṛj (धातु) → sammṛṣṭa (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with puram

• saṁsikta: well-sprinkled
• saṁsikta: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + sic (धातु) → saṁsikta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with puram

• mārga-rathyā-catuṣpatham: (having) roads, lanes, and crossroads
• mārga-rathyā-catuṣpatham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक) + rathyā (प्रातिपदिक) + catuṣpatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; dvandva listing ‘roads, lanes, and crossroads’; qualifies puram

• citra: variegated, colorful
• citra: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) in compound; qualifier of dhvaja/patākā

• dhvaja-patākābhiḥ: with flags and banners
• dhvaja-patākābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + patākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (collective), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• toraṇaiḥ: with archways/toranas
• toraṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• samalaṅkṛtam: fully decorated
• samalaṅkṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + alaṅkṛ (धातु) → alaṅkṛta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with puram

• srak-gandha-mālya-ābharaṇaiḥ: with garlands, perfumes, wreaths, and ornaments
• srak-gandha-mālya-ābharaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: srak (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + ābharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (collective), Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; instruments of decoration

• virajaḥ: spotless, dust-free
• virajaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana (as qualifier agreeing with ambara-bhūṣitaiḥ)

• ambara-bhūṣitaiḥ: adorned with garments
• ambara-bhūṣitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ambara (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣita (कृदन्त, क्त from bhūṣ धातु)
• Form: Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; ‘adorned with garments’; agrees with implied instruments

• juṣṭam: frequented, thronged
• juṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: juṣ (धातु) → juṣṭa (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with puram

• strī-puruṣaiḥ: by women and men
• strī-puruṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक) + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (collective), Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• śrīmad-gṛhaiḥ: with splendid houses
• śrīmad-gṛhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• aguru-dhūpitaiḥ: perfumed with aguru incense
• aguru-dhūpitaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aguru (प्रातिपदिक) + dhūpita (कृदन्त, क्त from dhūp धातु)
• Form: Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; ‘fumigated with aguru’; qualifies śrīmad-gṛhaiḥ

Purport

When earthen roads are sprinkled with water, the dust settles down and the road becomes smooth and firm. King Bhīṣmaka thoroughly prepared for the great wedding, setting the scene for Lord Kṛṣṇa’s triumphant abduction of beautiful Rukmiṇī-devī.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Rukmiṇī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about auspicious city decoration before Krishna’s wedding?

It describes the city as swept and sprinkled, with streets and crossroads cleaned, decorated with flags, banners, and toranas, and filled with well-adorned people; homes are perfumed with aguru incense.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing the city’s cleanliness and ornaments in Canto 10 Chapter 53?

He is setting the scene for the divine wedding events around Rukmiṇī and Kṛṣṇa, showing the auspicious, celebratory, and culturally sacred atmosphere of the occasion.

How can devotees apply this verse’s message in modern life?

By cultivating external and internal cleanliness, creating a sattvic, devotional environment (order, purity, fragrance), and preparing one’s home and mind as a welcoming place for remembrance and worship of the Lord.