Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 35

The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed (Brāhmaṇa-patnī-prasāda) — Ritualism Humbled by Bhakti

Devanagari script

तत्रैका विधृता भर्त्रा भगवन्तं यथाश्रुतम् । हृदोपगुह्य विजहौ देहं कर्मानुबन्धनम् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

tatraikā vidhṛtā bhartrā bhagavantaṁ yathā-śrutam hṛḍopaguhya vijahau dehaṁ karmānubandhanam

Translation

One of the ladies had been forcibly kept back by her husband. When she heard the others describe the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, she embraced Him within her heart and gave up her material body, the basis of bondage to material activity.

Synonyms

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: देशाधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• एका: one (woman)
• एका: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक सर्वनामसदृश

• विधृता: supported/held up
• विधृता: विशेषण (of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘धृ’ धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययः

• भर्त्रा: by (her) husband
• भर्त्रा: करण (Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• भगवन्तम्: the Lord
• भगवन्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative/manner)

• श्रुतम्: heard (as she had heard)
• श्रुतम्: विशेषण (of भगवन्तम्; ‘as heard’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘श्रुत’ = heard

• हृदा: with (her) heart
• हृदा: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• उपगुह्य: having embraced (within)
• उपगुह्य: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप-गुह् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययीभावरूप (gerund/absolutive), ‘having embraced/held close’

• विजहौ: she gave up/abandoned
• विजहौ: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-हा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देहम्: the body
• देहम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कर्मानुबन्धनम्: bound by karma
• कर्मानुबन्धनम्: विशेषण (of देहम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुबन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: कर्मणः अनुबन्धनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; देहस्य विशेषणम्

Purport

The lady described here was especially devoted to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Upon giving up her material body, she immediately attained a spiritual body and left the sacrificial arena to join the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• a brāhmaṇa wife
• her husband (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about liberation through remembering Krishna?

This verse teaches that even without physically reaching Kṛṣṇa, one can attain release from karmic bondage by embracing Him within the heart through faithful hearing and remembrance.

Why is a brāhmaṇa wife described as being restrained by her husband in Canto 10 Chapter 23?

In this episode, some brāhmaṇas and their households were bound by social and ritual concerns; despite being stopped externally, one wife’s inner devotion to Kṛṣṇa became complete and spiritually transformative.

Practical application of śravaṇam (hearing) and smaraṇam (remembrance) in modern life?

Regularly hear authentic Kṛṣṇa-kathā and consciously remember Kṛṣṇa in daily duties; the Bhāgavatam highlights that sincere inner absorption can purify karma and deepen devotion even amid obstacles.