Shloka 21

Kṛṣṇa Enters Mathurā: City Splendor, Devotees’ Reception, and the Washerman’s Fate

Devanagari script

ददर्श तां स्फाटिकतुङ्गगोपुर- द्वारां बृहद्धेमकपाटतोरणाम् । ताम्रारकोष्ठां परिखादुरासदा- मुद्यानरम्योपवनोपशोभिताम् ॥ २० ॥ सौवर्णश‍ृङ्गाटकहर्म्यनिष्कुटै: श्रेणीसभाभिर्भवनैरुपस्कृताम् । वैदूर्यवज्रामलनीलविद्रुमै- र्मुक्ताहरिद्भ‍िर्वलभीषु वेदिषु ॥ २१ ॥ जुष्टेषु जालामुखरन्ध्रकुट्टिमे- ष्वाविष्टपारावतबर्हिनादिताम् । संसिक्तरथ्यापणमार्गचत्वरां प्रकीर्णमाल्याङ्कुरलाजतण्डुलाम् ॥ २२ ॥ आपूर्णकुम्भैर्दधिचन्दनोक्षितै: प्रसूनदीपावलिभि: सपल्लवै: । सवृन्दरम्भाक्रमुकै: सकेतुभि: स्वलङ्कृतद्वारगृहां सपट्टिकै: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

dadarśa tāṁ sphāṭika-tuṇga-gopura- dvārāṁ bṛhad-dhema-kapāṭa-toraṇām tāmrāra-koṣṭhāṁ parikhā-durāsadām udyāna-ramyopavanopaśobhitām

Translation

マトゥラーは黄金の辻々、私苑を備えた邸宅、組合の सभा堂や多くの भवनで飾られ、家々のバルコニーや台座にはヴァイドゥーリヤ、金剛石、澄んだ水晶、青玉、珊瑚、真珠、緑玉がちりばめられていた。

Synonyms

• सौवर्ण-शृङ्गाटक-हर्म्य-निष्कुटैः: with golden crossroads, mansions, and courtyards
• सौवर्ण-शृङ्गाटक-हर्म्य-निष्कुटैः: करण (Instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + शृङ्गाटक (प्रातिपदिक) + हर्म्य (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्कुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-समूहवाचक; तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; साधन/हेतु (by means of/with)

• श्रेणी-सभाभिः: with guild-halls and assembly halls
• श्रेणी-सभाभिः: करण (Instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेणी (प्रातिपदिक) + सभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘श्रेणीभिः सभाभिः च’

• भवनैः: with buildings
• भवनैः: करण (Instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• उपस्कृताम्: adorned
• उपस्कृताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Adjectival to object/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + √कृ (कृञ्) + क्त → उपस्कृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: ‘अलङ्कृता/सज्जिता’ (adorned, furnished)

• वैदूर्य-वज्र-अमल-नील-विद्रुमैः: with cat’s-eye gems, diamonds, spotless sapphires, and corals
• वैदूर्य-वज्र-अमल-नील-विद्रुमैः: करण (Instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अमल (प्रातिपदिक) + नील (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्रव्य-समूह (materials)

• मुक्ता-हरिद्भिः: with pearls and green gems
• मुक्ता-हरिद्भिः: करण (Instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + हरित्/हरिद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग-समूह; तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘मुक्ताभिः हरिद्भिः च’ (pearls and green gems/emeralds)

• वलभीषु: on the balconies/terraces
• वलभीषु: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वलभी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; स्थानाधिकरण (location)

• वेदिषु: on the platforms/altars
• वेदिषु: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; स्थानाधिकरण

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura gives this description of the elaborately decorated pots: “On either side of each doorway, above the scattered rice, is a pot. Encircling each pot are flower petals, on its neck are ribbons and in its mouth are leaves of mango and other trees. Above each pot, on a gold plate, are rows of lamps. A trunk of a banana tree stands on either side of each pot, and a betel-nut tree trunk stands in front and also behind. Flags lean against the pots.”

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the beauty and prosperity of Mathura?

This verse depicts Mathura as magnificently adorned—golden intersections, grand mansions, public halls, and gem-inlaid balconies—showing the city’s royal prosperity as Kṛṣṇa beholds it.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing Mathura’s architecture and jewels in such detail?

He is narrating Kṛṣṇa’s entrance into Mathura, emphasizing the splendor of the setting where Kṛṣṇa’s leelā unfolds and highlighting how the Lord observes the world’s grandeur without being bound by it.

What is a practical takeaway from this shloka for modern life?

Appreciate beauty and excellence without becoming attached; let external prosperity remind you of the higher purpose—seeking the presence of the Divine (Kṛṣṇa) within and around you.