Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 21
The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed (Brāhmaṇa-patnī-prasāda) — Ritualism Humbled by Bhakti
निषिध्यमाना: पतिभिर्भ्रातृभिर्बन्धुभि: सुतै: । भगवत्युत्तमश्लोके दीर्घश्रुतधृताशया: ॥ २० ॥ यमुनोपवनेऽशोकनवपल्लवमण्डिते । विचरन्तं वृतं गोपै: साग्रजं ददृशु: स्त्रिय: ॥ २१ ॥
niṣidhyamānāḥ patibhir bhrātṛbhir bandhubhiḥ sutaiḥ bhagavaty uttama-śloke dīrgha-śruta-dhṛtāśayāḥ
Although their husbands, brothers, sons and other relatives tried to forbid them from going, their hope of seeing Kṛṣṇa, cultivated by extensive hearing of His transcendental qualities, won out. Along the river Yamunā, within a garden decorated with buds of aśoka trees, they caught sight of Him strolling along in the company of the cowherd boys and His elder brother, Balarāma.
FAQs
This verse shows that deep śravaṇa (long hearing about Kṛṣṇa) gives devotees unshakable hope and resolve, even when relatives forbid their devotional action.
In the narrative, social and ritual expectations made their families oppose them leaving home to approach Kṛṣṇa, yet their devotion—nurtured by hearing His glories—overruled fear and restriction.
Regularly hear and study Kṛṣṇa’s teachings and līlās; that inner conviction helps one stay steady in spiritual practice even amid external pressure or discouragement.