Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 57

Dhruva’s Darśana, Transformative Prayers, and the Boon of the Dhruva-loka

Pole Star

Devanagari script

मृष्टचत्वररथ्याट्टमार्गं चन्दनचर्चितम् । लाजाक्षतै: पुष्पफलैस्तण्डुलैर्बलिभिर्युतम् ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

mṛṣṭa-catvara-rathyāṭṭa- mārgaṁ candana-carcitam lājākṣataiḥ puṣpa-phalais taṇḍulair balibhir yutam

Translation

നഗരത്തിലെ ചത്വരങ്ങളും ഇടവഴികളും തെരുവുകളും കൂടിച്ചേരുന്നിടങ്ങളിലെ ഉയർന്ന ഇരിപ്പിടങ്ങളും നന്നായി വൃത്തിയാക്കി ചന്ദനജലം തളിച്ചു; ലാജ, അക്ഷതം, പുഷ്പഫലങ്ങൾ, അരി മുതലായ മംഗളബലികൾ എല്ലാടവും വിതറി।

Synonyms

• मृष्ट: cleansed, polished
• मृष्ट: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृष्ट (कृदन्त; √मृज् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past passive participle used adjectivally

• चत्वर: courtyard, square
• चत्वर: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चत्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग), अव्यक्त-विभक्ति (समासपूर्वपद)

• रथ्या: street, road
• रथ्या: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग), अव्यक्त-विभक्ति (समासपूर्वपद)

• अट्ट: market-place/raised thoroughfare
• अट्ट: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अट्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (समासाङ्ग), अव्यक्त-विभक्ति (समासपूर्वपद); ‘अट्ट’ = market/raised place (contextual)

• मार्गम्: the ways/roads (area of squares, streets, markets, paths)
• मार्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (चत्वर-रथ्या-अट्ट-मार्ग) समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (collective)

• चन्दन: sandalwood
• चन्दन: Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग), अव्यक्त-विभक्ति (समासपूर्वपद)

• चर्चितम्: smeared/anointed (with sandal)
• चर्चितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर्चित (कृदन्त; √चर्च्/√चर्चा धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चन्दनेन चर्चितम्)

• लाजा: parched rice
• लाजा: Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग), अव्यक्त-विभक्ति (समासपूर्वपद)

• अक्षतैः: with parched rice and unbroken grains
• अक्षतैः: Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः (लाजा-अक्षत) इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः; ‘अक्षत’ = unbroken rice grains

• पुष्प: flowers
• पुष्प: Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग), अव्यक्त-विभक्ति (समासपूर्वपद)

• फलैः: with flowers and fruits
• फलैः: Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः (पुष्प-फल) इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• तण्डुलैः: with rice grains
• तण्डुलैः: Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• बलिभिः: with offerings
• बलिभिः: Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• युतम्: endowed/filled (with)
• युतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘युक्त/युत’ = endowed/combined

FAQs

Why are streets smeared with sandalwood and decorated with akshata in Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse shows a traditional Vedic way of creating an auspicious, devotional atmosphere—purifying the surroundings and offering respectful worship during a sacred reception.

Who is describing these auspicious arrangements in Canto 4 Chapter 9?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates how the city prepared in a sanctified way during the events surrounding Dhruva Mahārāja’s return.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

Keep one’s home or temple space clean and devotional, and welcome holy occasions or devotees with simple, sincere offerings—flowers, prasāda, and a purified mood.