Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 16

Duryodhana’s Envy at Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya and the Avabhṛtha Festival

Devanagari script

गुप्ता नृभिर्निरगमन्नुपलब्धुमेतद् देव्यो यथा दिवि विमानवरैर्नृदेव्यो । ता मातुलेयसखिभि: परिषिच्यमाना: सव्रीडहासविकसद्वदना विरेजु: ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

guptā nṛbhir niragamann upalabdhum etad devyo yathā divi vimāna-varair nṛ-devyo tā mātuleya-sakhibhiḥ pariṣicyamānāḥ sa-vrīḍa-hāsa-vikasad-vadanā virejuḥ

Translation

Được lính canh bảo vệ, các hoàng hậu của vua Yudhiṣṭhira ra ngoài trên xe để xem cuộc vui, như các phu nhân chư thiên hiện ra giữa trời trên những vimāna tuyệt diệu. Khi các anh em họ bên ngoại và bạn thân rưới chất lỏng lên họ, gương mặt các hoàng hậu nở rộ nụ cười e thẹn, càng làm tăng vẻ rực rỡ của họ.

Synonyms

• guptāḥ: protected, guarded
• guptāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gupta (कृदन्त; √gup गोपने)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ktá); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nṛbhiḥ: by men/guards
• nṛbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• niragaman: went out, departed
• niragaman: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√gam (धातु; गमॢ गतौ)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada

• upalabdhum: to perceive/recognize
• upalabdhum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√labh (धातु; लभ् प्राप्तौ)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्/तुम्); purpose

• etat: this (thing)
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• devyaḥ: the ladies/queens
• devyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• yathā: as, like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; comparative particle (उपमा/यथार्थ-निबन्धन)

• divi: in heaven/sky
• divi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: div (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• vimāna-varaiḥ: by excellent aerial chariots
• vimāna-varaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna-vara (प्रातिपदिक; vimāna + vara)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (usage: neuter plural often; here Instrumental plural); Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; compound: 'excellent aerial cars'

• nṛ-devyaḥ: royal ladies (queens)
• nṛ-devyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ-devī (प्रातिपदिक; nṛ + devī)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'wives of kings'

• tāḥ: they (those women)
• tāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• mātuleya-sakhibhiḥ: by their maternal-cousin companions
• mātuleya-sakhibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātuleya-sakhi (प्रातिपदिक; mātuleya + sakhi)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'friends/companions who are maternal cousins'

• pariṣicyamānāḥ: being sprinkled (with water)
• pariṣicyamānāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√sic (धातु; सिच् सिञ्चने)
• Form: Present passive participle (शानच्/मान); Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (agreeing with tāḥ/devyaḥ)

• sa-vrīḍa-hāsa-vikasad-vadanāḥ: with faces blooming with bashful laughter
• sa-vrīḍa-hāsa-vikasad-vadanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + vrīḍā + hāsa + vikasat + vadana (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; bahuvrīhi: 'having faces blossoming with shy smiles' (sa- = 'with')

• virejuḥ: shone, appeared splendid
• virejuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√rāj (धातु; राजृ दीप्तौ)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural; parasmaipada

Purport

The maternal cousins referred to here are Lord Kṛṣṇa and such brothers of His as Gada and Sāraṇa, and the friends mentioned are such persons as Bhīma and Arjuna.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Royal ladies (queens of the Yadu/dynasty women)
• Mātuleya-sakhis (friends of Kṛṣṇa’s cousins/relatives)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the beauty and conduct of royal ladies in Krishna’s pastimes?

This verse depicts the queens and royal ladies as ‘devyāḥ’—radiant like celestial goddesses—yet modest and shy, showing that true beauty in Bhagavatam is joined with dignity, restraint, and auspicious conduct.

Why are the ladies described as being guarded and not easily approached?

Śukadeva describes them as protected by attendants to indicate royal decorum and safety, emphasizing their honor and the cultured etiquette surrounding the women of the royal households.

What is a practical lesson from this shloka for modern life?

The verse highlights that grace increases with humility and self-respect—cultivating modesty, inner joy, and respectful boundaries can make one’s character ‘shine’ more than mere external display.