Shloka 40

Kardama Muni’s Penance, Viṣṇu’s Darśana, and the Arrangement of Devahūti’s Marriage

Devanagari script

पुण्यद्रुमलताजालै: कूजत्पुण्यमृगद्विजै: । सर्वर्तुफलपुष्पाढ्यं वनराजिश्रियान्वितम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

puṇya-druma-latā-jālaiḥ kūjat-puṇya-mṛga-dvijaiḥ sarvartu-phala-puṣpāḍhyaṁ vana-rāji-śriyānvitam

Translation

ಸರೋವರದ ತೀರವು ಪುಣ್ಯದ್ರುಮ-ಲತಾಜಾಲಗಳಿಂದ ಆವರಿತವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಎಲ್ಲ ಋತುಗಳ ಫಲಪುಷ್ಪಗಳಿಂದ ಸಮೃದ್ಧವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಪುಣ್ಯ ಮೃಗಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳು ನಾನಾ ಧ್ವನಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂಗುತ್ತ, ವನರಾಜಿಯ ಶ್ರಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಅದು ವಿರಾಜಿಸಿತು।

Synonyms

• puṇya-druma-latā-jālaiḥ: with nets/clusters of holy trees and creepers
• puṇya-druma-latā-jālaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + druma (प्रातिपदिक) + latā (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समास: (puṇyāḥ drumāḥ latāś ca) teṣāṁ jālaiḥ = 'with networks of holy trees and creepers'

• kūjat-puṇya-mṛga-dvijaiḥ: with chirping holy beasts and birds
• kūjat-puṇya-mṛga-dvijaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūjat (कृदन्त; √kūj (धातु) 'to coo/chirp') + puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समास: kūjantī iti (mṛgāḥ dvijāś ca) = 'with holy animals and birds that are chirping'

• sarva-ṛtu-phala-puṣpa-āḍhyam: rich in fruits and flowers of all seasons
• sarva-ṛtu-phala-puṣpa-āḍhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛtu (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with implied 'vanam' (forest/grove)

• vana-rāji-śriyā-anvitam: endowed with the splendour of forest-groves
• vana-rāji-śriyā-anvitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + rāji (प्रातिपदिक) + śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (कृदन्त; √i (धातु) with anu-; past participle)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'endowed with the beauty/splendour of a forest-row/forest-grove'

Purport

It is stated here that Bindu-sarovara was surrounded by pious trees and birds. As there are different classes of men in human society, some pious and virtuous and some impious and sinful, so also among trees and birds there are the pious and the impious. Trees which do not bear nice fruit or flowers are considered impious, and birds which are very nasty, such as crows, are considered impious. In the land surrounding Bindu-sarovara there was not a single impious bird or tree. Every tree bore fruits and flowers, and every bird sang the glories of the Lord — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

Characters & Entities

• Kardama Muni
• Svāyambhuva Manu

FAQs

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

This verse portrays the hermitage as naturally pure and spiritually uplifting—filled with auspicious trees, creepers, birds, and animals, and always abundant with seasonal fruits and flowers.

Why is Kardama Muni’s forest grove described in such detail in Canto 3?

Śukadeva describes it to show the sanctity and prosperity that surround a great sage’s life of tapasya and devotion, setting the scene for Manu’s visit and the unfolding of the Kardama–Devahūti narrative.

Practical application: how can this shloka guide modern devotional practice?

It encourages creating a “sattvic environment”—keeping one’s space clean, natural, and peaceful—so the mind becomes receptive to japa, study of Bhagavatam, and remembrance of the Lord.