SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.11.13
gopura-dvāra-mārgesu
krta-kautuka-toranām
citra-dhvaja-patākāgrair
antah pratihatātapām

gopura — the gateway of the city; dvāra — door; mārgesu — on different roads; krta — undertaken; kautuka — because of the festival; toraṇām — decorated arch; citra — painted; dhvaja —flags; patākā-agraih — by the foremost signs; antah — within; pratihata —checked; ātapām —sunshine.

TRANSLATION

The city gateway, the household doors and festooned arches along the roads were all nicely decorated with festive signs like plantain trees and mango leaves, all to welcome the Lord. Flags, garlands and painted signs and slogans all combined to shade the sunshine.


JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada tells us in his purport; The flags mentioned above were all painted with the picture of either Garuda or Hanumān, the two great servitors of the Lord.

Here, the flags fly as the citizens welcome Krishna to their city. Later, in Bhagavad Gita (1.20), Arjuna will ride into battle under a flag marked with Hanuman.