Shloka 23

The Slaying of Narakāsura (Bhaumāsura), Rescue of the Princesses, and the Pārijāta Episode Begins

Devanagari script

ततश्च भू: कृष्णमुपेत्य कुण्डले प्रतप्तजाम्बूनदरत्नभास्वरे । सवैजयन्त्या वनमालयार्पयत् प्राचेतसं छत्रमथो महामणिम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

tataś ca bhūḥ kṛṣṇam upetya kuṇḍale pratapta-jāmbūnada-ratna-bhāsvare sa-vaijayantyā vana-mālayārpayat prācetasaṁ chatram atho mahā-maṇim

Translation

แล้วพระแม่ธรณีเสด็จเข้าไปเฝ้าพระกฤษณะ และถวายต่างหูของอทิติ ซึ่งทำด้วยทองชัมพูนทะอันเรืองรองฝังอัญมณีสุกใส อีกทั้งถวายพวงมาลัยไวชัยยันตี ร่มของวรุณะ และมหาอัญมณีคือยอดเขามันทระด้วย

Synonyms

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (काल/क्रमवाचक अव्यय)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• bhūḥ: Bhū (Earth goddess)
• bhūḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘Bhū-devī/Earth goddess’

• kṛṣṇam: Krishna
• kṛṣṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• upetya: having approached
• upetya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + i (धातु) + lyap (कृत्)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त), ‘having approached’

• kuṇḍale: the two earrings
• kuṇḍale: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Dual (द्विवचन)

• pratapta-jāmbūnada-ratna-bhāsvare: shining with Jāmbūnada-gold gems
• pratapta-jāmbūnada-ratna-bhāsvare: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratapta + jāmbūnada + ratna + bhāsvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Dual; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘प्रतप्त-जाम्बूनद-रत्नैः भास्वरे’ (shining with gems of heated Jāmbūnada gold)

• sa-vaijayantyā: together with the Vaijayantī (garland)
• sa-vaijayantyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa + vaijayantī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘वैजयन्त्या सहितया’

• vana-mālayā: with a forest garland
• vana-mālayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana + mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; तत्पुरुषः—‘वनस्य माला’ (forest-garland)

• arpayat: offered/presented
• arpayat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arp (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; परस्मैपद

• prācetasam: Varuṇa’s (Prācetasa)
• prācetasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prācetasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; विशेषण of chatram; ‘belonging to Varuṇa (Pracetas)’

• chatram: umbrella
• chatram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• atha: then/also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अनन्तर/प्रसङ्गसूचक अव्यय)

• u: indeed
• u: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: u (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• mahā-maṇim: a great jewel
• mahā-maṇim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + maṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; कर्मधारयः—‘महान् मणिः’

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Bhū-devī (Earth-goddess)
• Varuṇa (Prācetasa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Bhū-devī offering gifts to Kṛṣṇa?

In this verse, Bhū-devī personally approaches Kṛṣṇa and honors Him with divine ornaments and royal emblems—shining earrings, garlands, Varuṇa’s umbrella, and a great jewel—showing that even the Earth-goddess serves and worships Him as the Supreme Lord.

Why did Bhū-devī present the Vaijayantī garland, umbrella, and jewel to Kṛṣṇa?

After Kṛṣṇa’s victorious līlā (including the defeat of powerful enemies and relief of the burden on Earth), Bhū-devī offers tokens of honor and sovereignty, acknowledging His protection and supreme rulership.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Offer your best—time, attention, resources, and gratitude—in service to God. Like Bhū-devī’s reverent offerings, devotional life is strengthened when one consciously honors the Lord with sincerity and excellence.