Texts 8-9
puraṁ sammṛṣṭa-saṁsikta-
mārga-rathyā-catuṣpatham
citra-dhvaja-patākābhis
toraṇaiḥ samalaṅkṛtam
srag-gandha-mālyābharaṇair
virajo-’mbara-bhūṣitaiḥ
juṣṭaṁ strī-puruṣaiḥ śrīmad-
gṛhair aguru-dhūpitaiḥ
puram — the city; sammṛṣṭa — thoroughly cleaned; saṁsikta — and sprinkled abundantly with water; mārga — the main avenues; rathyā — commercial roads; catuḥ-patham — and intersections; citra — variegated; dhvaja — on flagpoles; patākābhiḥ — with banners; toraṇaiḥ — and archways; samalaṅkṛtam — decorated; srak — with jeweled necklaces; gandha — fragrant substances such as sandalwood paste; mālya — flower garlands; ābharaṇaiḥ — and other ornaments; virajaḥ — spotless; ambara — in clothing; bhūṣitaiḥ — who were arrayed; juṣṭam — containing; strī — women; puruṣaiḥ — and men; śrī-mat — opulent; gṛhaiḥ — homes; aguru-dhūpitaiḥ — aromatic with aguru incense.
The king had the main avenues, commercial roads and intersections thoroughly cleaned and then sprinkled with water, and he also had the city decorated with triumphant archways and multicolored banners on poles. The men and women of the city, arrayed in spotless raiment and anointed with fragrant sandalwood paste, wore precious necklaces, flower garlands and jeweled ornaments, and their opulent homes were filled with the aroma of aguru.
When earthen roads are sprinkled with water, the dust settles down and the road becomes smooth and firm. King Bhīṣmaka thoroughly prepared for the great wedding, setting the scene for Lord Kṛṣṇa’s triumphant abduction of beautiful Rukmiṇī-devī.