Shloka 32

Kardama Muni’s Mystic Opulence, Devahūti’s Rejuvenation, and the Turning Toward Fearlessness

Devanagari script

श्रोण्योरध्यस्तया काञ्‍च्या काञ्चन्या बहुरत्नया । हारेण च महार्हेण रुचकेन च भूषितम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

śroṇyor adhyastayā kāñcyā kāñcanyā bahu-ratnayā hāreṇa ca mahārheṇa rucakena ca bhūṣitam

Translation

ਉਸ ਦੀ ਕਮਰ ‘ਤੇ ਅਨੇਕ ਰਤਨਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਜੜੀ ਸੋਨੇ ਦੀ ਕਾਂਚੀ (ਕਮਰਬੰਦ) ਸੀ; ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਕੀਮਤੀ ਹਾਰ ਤੇ ਰੁਚਕ (ਮੰਗਲ ਦ੍ਰਵ੍ਯ/ਸ਼ੁਭ ਅਲੰਕਾਰ) ਨਾਲ ਵੀ ਸਜੀ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ।

Synonyms

• śroṇyoḥ: on the hips
• śroṇyoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śroṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी/सप्तमी विभक्ति (6th/7th), द्विवचन; here locative sense 'on the hips' (सप्तमी-द्विवचन)

• adhyastayā: placed upon
• adhyastayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhi-asta (आस् धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) 'placed upon'; agrees with kāñcyā

• kāñcyā: with a girdle
• kāñcyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāñcī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण (instrumental: with/by a girdle)

• kāñcanyā: golden
• kāñcanyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of kāñcyā (golden)

• bahu-ratnayā: set with many gems
• bahu-ratnayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (bahūni ratnāni yasyām = studded with many gems) qualifying kāñcyā

• hāreṇa: with a necklace
• hāreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction: and)

• mahārheṇa: very precious
• mahārheṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (mahān arhaḥ = very valuable) qualifying hāreṇa

• rucakena: with a rucaka ornament
• rucakena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rucaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण (with a rucaka ornament)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• bhūṣitam: adorned
• bhūṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūṣita (भूष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used adjectivally; 'adorned' (of ātmānam understood)

Purport

Auspicious substances include saffron, kuṅkuma and sandalwood pulp. Before taking a bath there are other auspicious substances, such as turmeric mixed with mustard seed oil, which are smeared all over the body. All kinds of auspicious substances were used to bathe Devahūti from top to toe.

Characters & Entities

• Devahūti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Devahuti’s adornments in Canto 3 Chapter 23?

This verse describes Devahūti’s refined ornaments—a jeweled golden waist-belt, a precious necklace, and a radiant pendant—highlighting her noble, auspicious presentation within the sacred household narrative.

Why is Devahuti described with such detailed jewelry in the Bhagavata Purana?

Śukadeva presents her beauty and auspicious adornment to set the scene for the divine, dharmic household of Kardama and Devahūti—showing that material elegance, when aligned with dharma and devotion, can serve a sacred purpose.

How can this shloka be applied in modern devotional life?

It suggests cultivating cleanliness, dignity, and tasteful simplicity in one’s life and worship—using beauty as an offering and maintaining a dharmic standard rather than indulgence.