SB 4.9.54 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.9.54

तत्र तत्रोपसंक्लृप्तैर्लसन्मकरतोरणै: सवृन्दै: कदलीस्तम्भै: पूगपोतैश्च तद्विधै: ॥ ५४ ॥

tatra tatropasaṅkḷptair

[tatra tatropasanklriptair]

lasan-makara-toraṇaiḥ

[lasan-makara-toranaih]

savṛndaiḥ kadalī-stambhaiḥ

[savrindaih kadalee-stambhaih]

pūga-potaiś ca tad-vidhaiḥ

[pooga-potaish cha tad-vidhaih]

Word-for-word

tatra tatra — here and there upasaṅkḷptaiḥ — set up lasat — brilliant makara — shark-shaped toraṇaiḥ — with arched gateways sa-vṛndaiḥ — with bunches of fruits and flowers kadalī — of banana trees stambhaiḥ — with columns pūga-potaiḥ — with young betel-nut trees ca — also tat-vidhaiḥ — of that kind.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

tatra tatropasaṅkḷptair

tatra tatra

here and there

upasaṅkḷptaiḥ

set up

lasan-makara-toraṇaiḥ

lasat

brilliant

makara

shark-shaped

toraṇaiḥ

with arched gateways

savṛndaiḥ kadalī-stambhaiḥ

sa-vṛndaiḥ

with bunches of fruits and flowers

kadalī

of banana trees

stambhaiḥ

with columns

pūga-potaiś ca tad-vidhaiḥ

pūga-potaiḥ

with young betel-nut trees

also

tat-vidhaiḥ

of that kind.

The whole city was decorated with columns of banana trees containing bunches of fruits and flowers, and betel-nut trees with leaves and branches were seen here and there. There were also many gates set up which were structured to give the appearance of sharks.

Purport

Auspicious ceremonies with decorations of the green leaves of palms, coconut trees, betel-nut trees and banana trees, and fruits, flowers and leaves, are an age-old custom in India. To receive his great son Dhruva Mahārāja, King Uttānapāda arranged a good reception, and all the citizens very enthusiastically took part with great jubilation.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

Every door was decorated with arches having shining makaras engraved on them, erected overhead, as well as was decorated with banana trunks with buds and flowers, young betel trees. The doors were hung with mangos, leaves, cloth and strings of pearls, and decorated with water pots and lamps. Four verses describe the city. Upasaṅklptaiḥ means that ingredients were brought from gardens and assembled. The arches had shining makaras forms on them. The banana trunks had fruits and buds (savṛtaiḥ). Apāṁ kumbhaiḥ sadīpakaiḥ modifies this.

Personal Guidance

Banana trees with fruit and flowers, betel-nut leaves, shark-shaped gates — the city was dressed for celebration. Honor real returns with real material care; ritual decoration is not frivolity, it is shared joy made visible.

Reflection Questions

Which return in my circle deserves more material care from me than I've planned?
Where am I treating ceremony as optional when it's actually load-bearing for community joy?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io