tat—of him (Vasudeva)dīkṣāyām—the initiation for the sacrificepravṛttāyām—when it was about to beginvṛṣṇayaḥ—the Vṛṣṇispuṣkara—of lotusessrajaḥ—wearing garlandssnātāḥ—bathedsuvāsasaḥ—well dressedrājan—O Kingrājānaḥ—(other) kingssuṣṭhu—elaboratelyalaṅkṛtāḥ—ornamentedtat—theirmahiṣyaḥ—queensca—andmuditāḥ—joyfulniṣka—jeweled locketskaṇṭhyaḥ—on whose neckssu - vāsasaḥ—well dresseddīkṣā—of initiationśālām—the pavilionupājagmuḥ—they approachedāliptāḥ—anointedvastu—with auspicious itemspāṇayaḥ—in whose hands .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tad-dīkṣāyāṁ pravṛttāyāṁ
tat
of him (Vasudeva)
dīkṣāyām
the initiation for the sacrifice
pravṛttāyām
when it was about to begin
vṛṣṇayaḥ puṣkara-srajaḥ
vṛṣṇayaḥ
the Vṛṣṇis
puṣkara
of lotuses
srajaḥ
wearing garlands
snātāḥ su-vāsaso rājan
snātāḥ
bathed
suvāsasaḥ
well dressed
rājan
O King
rājānaḥ suṣṭhv-alaṅkṛtāḥ
rājānaḥ
(other) kings
suṣṭhu
elaborately
alaṅkṛtāḥ
ornamented
tan-mahiṣyaś ca muditā
tat
their
mahiṣyaḥ
queens
ca
and
muditāḥ
joyful
niṣka-kaṇṭhyaḥ su-vāsasaḥ
niṣka
jeweled lockets
kaṇṭhyaḥ
on whose necks
su - vāsasaḥ
well dressed
dīkṣā-śālām upājagmur
dīkṣā
of initiation
śālām
the pavilion
upājagmuḥ
they approached
āliptā vastu-pāṇayaḥ
āliptāḥ
anointed
vastu
with auspicious items
pāṇayaḥ
in whose hands .
Important Words
dīkṣāyām—at the initiation
From √dīkṣ (to consecrate). Vaiṣṇavas read dīkṣā as the seed-rite of bhajana; here Vasudeva's yajña-dīkṣā is the Vedic precursor to the same notion. Gauḍīyas distinguish karma-dīkṣā from bhakti-dīkṣā but treat both as serious sacraments.
puṣkara-srajaḥ—wearing lotus garlands
puṣkara (lotus) + sraj (garland). The lotus is Viṣṇu's emblem. Gauḍīyas note that lotus-garlands at a yajña are not aesthetic flourish; they are the silent declaration that the yajña is for Viṣṇu.
mahiṣyaḥ—queens
From mahiṣī (chief queen). The verse lists queens with their gifts — registering that yajña, properly done, is performed by householders as a couple-act. Gauḍīyas read patnī-saṁyāja (verse 53) as the codification of this.
vastu-pāṇayaḥ—with auspicious items in hand
vastu (substance, auspicious item) + pāṇi (hand). The hands of the household are full of pūjā-materials. Gauḍīyas treat the hand-fullness of a Vaiṣṇava household as a small marker — what is in the hand reveals what is in the heart.
When Mahārāja Vasudeva was about to be initiated for the sacrifice, O King, the Vṛṣṇis came to the initiation pavilion after bathing and putting on fine clothes and garlands of lotuses. The other kings also came, elaborately ornamented, as well as all their joyful queens, who wore jeweled lockets around their necks and were also clad in fine garments. The royal wives were anointed with sandalwood paste and carried auspicious items for the worship.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
When Mahārāja Vasudeva was about to be initiated for the sacrifice, O King, the Vṛṣṇis came to the initiation pavilion after bathing and putting on fine clothes and garlands of lotuses. The other kings also came, elaborately ornamented, as well as all their joyful queens, who wore jeweled lockets around their necks and were also clad in fine garments. The royal wives were anointed with sandalwood paste and carried auspicious items for the worship.
Commentary
Holding various articles of worship (vastu panayah) in their hands they entered the arena.
Jīva Gosvāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
The Vṛṣṇis and other kings participated. O king! These kings had good fortune! Addressing the king also indicates Śukadeva’s great joy. Vasudeva’s wives (tad-mahiṣyaḥ) were joyful. The word ca indicates that the Vṛṣṇis and others were similarly joyful. They came close (upa-ājagmuḥ) to the dīkṣa arena.
Vasudeva is initiated for sacrifice; the Vṛṣṇis arrive in beautiful procession. Sacred rites gather the community; the act of one devotee draws the whole family into participation.
Reflection Questions
What sacred undertaking of mine could become a community celebration?
Where am I doing privately what would be richer if shared?
Analogy
The dīkṣā-pavilion fills like a festival mandapa on Janmāṣṭamī — the Vṛṣṇis bathed and garlanded, the visiting kings ornamented, their queens joyful and carrying the small auspicious materials of pūjā. Vasudeva's initiation is the household's ceremony, not the priest's; the whole family flowers around it.