FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.75.11

चित्रध्वजपताकाग्रैरिभेन्द्रस्यन्दनार्वभि: । स्वलङ्कृतैर्भटैर्भूपा निर्ययू रुक्‍ममालिन: ॥ ११ ॥
citra-dhvaja-patākāgrair
[chitra-dhvaja-pataakaagrair]
ibhendra-syandanārvabhiḥ
[ibhendra-syandanaarvabhih]
sv-alaṅkṛtair bhaṭair bhūpā
[sv-alankritair bhatair bhoopaa]
niryayū rukma-mālinaḥ
[niryayoo rukma-maalinah]
Word-for-word
citra — of various colors dhvaja — with flags patāka — and banners agraiḥ — excellent ibha — with elephants indra — lordly syandana — chariots arvabhiḥ — and horses su - alaṅkṛtaiḥ — well ornamented bhaṭaiḥ — with foot soldiers bhū - pāḥ — the kings niryayuḥ — departed rukma — gold mālinaḥ — wearing necklaces .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
citra-dhvaja-patākāgrair
citra
of various colors
dhvaja
with flags
patāka
and banners
agraiḥ
excellent
ibhendra-syandanārvabhiḥ
ibha
with elephants
sv-alaṅkṛtair bhaṭair bhūpā
niryayū rukma-mālinaḥ
indra
lordly
syandana
chariots
arvabhiḥ
and horses
su - alaṅkṛtaiḥ
well ornamented
bhaṭaiḥ
with foot soldiers
bhū - pāḥ
the kings
niryayuḥ
departed
rukma
gold
mālinaḥ
wearing necklaces .
Important Words
  • citra-dhvaja — with variegated flags
    Compound: citra (various) + dhvaja (flag). Each king's banner is his identity — here all banners walk in one direction, behind the dharma-rāja.
  • ibha-indra — lordly elephants
    Compound: ibha (elephant) + indra (king). The royal mount. Even kingly elephants are extras in this procession; the central figure is the bath-bound emperor of dharma.
  • bhū-pāḥ — the kings
    Compound: bhū (earth) + pāḥ (protectors). Kings as earth-protectors — but only Yudhiṣṭhira, with Kṛṣṇa as his cakṣus, protects the earth by sacrifice rather than conquest.
  • rukma-mālinaḥ — wearing gold necklaces
    Compound: rukma (gold) + mālin (garlanded). Ornament walks toward the river that will hold the avabhṛtha. Gauḍīya reading: aiśvarya escorts bhakti to its bath, not the reverse.
All the kings, wearing gold necklaces, then set off for the Yamunā. They had flags and banners of various colors and were accompanied by infantrymen and well-adorned soldiers riding lordly elephants, chariots and horses.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
All the kings, wearing gold necklaces, then set off for the Yamunā. They had flags and banners of various colors and were accompanied by infantrymen and well-adorned soldiers riding lordly elephants, chariots and horses.
Commentary

The kings went out with four parts of the army: elephants, horses, chariots and foot soldiers, in front of which were colorful banners on poles.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

After describing the festivity of the bath, the preparations for departure are described until verse 16. The kings had golden garlands or their gold crowns appeared like a garland as they lined up.

Related values & verses
Related values
Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Discriminative WisdomAbhaya (Fearlessness)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)
Related verses
BG 17.20 BG 5.7 BG 12.5 BG 5.4 BG 3.27 BG 10.4 BG 3.11 BG 18.1 BG 7.8 BG 13.1 BG 12.6
Personal Guidance
Kings in gold necklaces, banners flying, accompanied by infantry on elephants, chariots, and horses — the procession honored the King. Dignity in form supports dignity in meaning.
Reflection Questions
  • Where could a little more outer dignity support an inner reality?
  • What small form would honor what I'm doing?
Analogy

The procession of kings to the Yamunā for Yudhiṣṭhira's bath is a parade of crowns walking behind one Vaiṣṇava — like rivers conceding to the Ganges. Royal ornaments still exist, but their direction is reversed: they no longer point to themselves.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 75