Shloka 1

Chapter 90

Devanagari script

श्री-शुक उवाच सुखं स्व-पुर्यां निवसन् द्वारकायां श्रियः पतिः ।

सर्व-सम्पत्-समृद्धायां जुष्टायां वृष्णि-पुङ्गवैः ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca sukhaṃ sva-puryāṃ nivasan dvārakāyāṃ śriyaḥ patiḥ / sarva-sampat-samṛddhāyāṃ juṣṭāyāṃ vṛṣṇi-puṅgavaiḥ //

Translation

ศรีศุกะกล่าวว่า: พระผู้เป็นเจ้า ผู้เป็นสวามีแห่งพระศรี (ลักษมี) ประทับอยู่ด้วยความผาสุกในนครของพระองค์เองคือทวารกา อันอุดมด้วยสมบัติทุกประการ และงดงามด้วยวีรชนผู้เลิศแห่งวงศ์วฤษณิ

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of uvāca)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound honorific: śrī-śuka; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sukham: happily, comfortably
• sukham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (द्वितीयान्त-प्रयोगः) functioning as avyaya; manner adverb

• sva-puryām: in his own city
• sva-puryām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: sva-purī (स्वपुरी = own city); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• nivasan: dwelling
• nivasan: Karta (कर्ता/subject—participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√vas (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with patiḥ

• dvārakāyām: in Dvārakā
• dvārakāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvārakā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śriyaḥ: of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• śriyaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• patiḥ: lord, husband
• patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of participle phrase)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-sampat-samṛddhāyām: in (a city) rich with all prosperity
• sarva-sampat-samṛddhāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + sampat (प्रातिपदिक) + samṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: sarva-sampat-samṛddha (सर्वसम्पत्समृद्ध = enriched with all prosperity); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying dvārakāyām/puryām

• juṣṭāyām: favored, frequented
• juṣṭāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √juṣ (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying dvārakāyām

• vṛṣṇi-puṅgavaiḥ: by the foremost Vṛṣṇis
• vṛṣṇi-puṅgavaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument—by whom/with whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: vṛṣṇi-puṅgava (वृष्णिपुङ्गव = best among the Vṛṣṇis); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Purport

This verse establishes the setting of Kṛṣṇa’s royal life in Dvārakā. Though the Supreme Lord is ātmārāma (fully self-satisfied), He chooses to dwell in a sacred, well-governed city among His devotees, displaying an ideal of dharmic kingship and community. Dvārakā is described as “rich in all prosperity,” indicating not merely material wealth but the presence of auspiciousness generated by devotion, protection, and righteous rule. The phrase “Lord of Śrī” (śriyaḥ patiḥ) reminds the listener that all prosperity ultimately belongs to and emanates from Bhagavān; when He is central, opulence becomes sanctified and supportive of dharma rather than a cause of pride. The mention of the Vṛṣṇi leaders highlights that Kṛṣṇa’s līlā unfolds in the company of exalted devotees—His sovereignty is expressed through affectionate relationships, not domination. For practitioners, the verse teaches that spiritual life is not rejection of orderly prosperity, but aligning one’s home, society, and resources around service to the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Vṛṣṇis
• Lakṣmī (Śrī)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna living in Dvārakā?

This verse says Kṛṣṇa lived happily in His own city Dvārakā, a place filled with all opulences and graced by the foremost Vṛṣṇi devotees.

Why is Krishna called śriyaḥ patiḥ in this verse?

Because He is the Lord of Lakṣmī (Śrī), indicating that all prosperity and auspiciousness ultimately rest in Him and are sanctified when connected to His presence.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Build a home and community centered on devotion and dharma—using prosperity as a support for service, protection, and virtue rather than ego and excess.