Shloka 11

Varṣā-Śarad Vṛndāvana-Śobha: The Beauty of the Rainy and Autumn Seasons in Vraja

Devanagari script

हरिता हरिभि: शष्पैरिन्द्रगोपैश्च लोहिता । उच्छिलीन्ध्रकृतच्छाया नृणां श्रीरिव भूरभूत् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

haritā haribhiḥ śaṣpair indragopaiś ca lohitā ucchilīndhra-kṛta-cchāyā nṛṇāṁ śrīr iva bhūr abhūt

Translation

新芽の草が大地を翡翠の緑にし、インドラゴーパの虫が赤みを添え、白い茸が影の輪を描いた。かくして大地は、人が忽ち富を得たときの「シュリー」のように輝いた。

Synonyms

• हरिता: green
• हरिता: विशेषण (भूः-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative singular

• हरिभिः: with green (blades)
• हरिभिः: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental plural; here as adjective “green” used substantively

• शष्पैः: with fresh grass shoots
• शष्पैः: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन — Neuter, Instrumental plural

• इन्द्रगोपैः: with indragopa insects (red bugs)
• इन्द्रगोपैः: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रगोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental plural

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय — conjunction

• लोहिता: reddish
• लोहिता: विशेषण (भूः-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative singular

• उच्छिलीन्ध्र-कृत-छाया: having shade made by mushrooms/fungi
• उच्छिलीन्ध्र-कृत-छाया: विशेषण (भूः-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्छिलीन्ध्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उच्छिलीन्ध्रैः कृता छाया यस्याः/या) — Feminine, Nominative singular; determinative compound

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन — Masculine, Genitive plural

• श्रीः: prosperity/fortune
• श्रीः: उपमान (उपमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative singular

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा-सूचक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय — particle of simile

• भूः: the earth
• भूः: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative singular

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — Aorist, 3rd person singular

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī comments that the word nṛṇām indicates men of the royal order. Thus the colorful display of dark green fields decorated with bright red insects and white mushroom umbrellas can be compared to a royal parade displaying the military strength of a king.

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam describe about Vṛndāvana during the rainy season (Canto 10)?

It depicts the earth becoming lush and beautiful—green with fresh grasses, tinged red by indrāgopa insects, and cooled by natural shade—showing Vraja as a radiant, auspicious landscape fit for Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

Why is the earth compared to Śrī (Lakṣmī) in this verse?

Because her renewed beauty, color, and abundance after the rains resemble the splendor and auspiciousness of Śrī—suggesting prosperity and divine attractiveness manifesting in nature.

Practical application: what devotional lesson can a modern reader take from this shloka?

See nature’s cycles as reminders of renewal and grace—cultivating gratitude and a devotional vision that recognizes the Lord’s presence and beauty reflected in the world.