Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 44

The Syamantaka Jewel: Accusation, Recovery, and Kṛṣṇa’s Marriage to Satyabhāmā

Devanagari script

तां सत्यभामां भगवानुपयेमे यथाविधि । बहुभिर्याचितां शीलरूपौदार्यगुणान्विताम् ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

tāṁ satyabhāmāṁ bhagavān upayeme yathā-vidhi bahubhir yācitāṁ śīla- rūpaudārya-guṇānvitām

Translation

The Lord married Satyabhāmā in proper religious fashion. Possessed of excellent behavior, along with beauty, broad-mindedness and all other good qualities, she had been sought by many men.

Synonyms

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सत्यभामाम्: Satyabhāmā
• सत्यभामाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यभामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेष-नाम

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उपयेमे: married, took (as wife)
• उपयेमे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-यम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• यथा-विधि: according to the prescribed rites
• यथा-विधि: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial compound)

• बहुभिः: by many (suitors)
• बहुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण/सह (by many)

• याचिताम्: requested, sought (in marriage)
• याचिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; past passive participle qualifying her

• शील-रूप-औदार्य-गुण-अन्विताम्: endowed with character, beauty, generosity, and virtues
• शील-रूप-औदार्य-गुण-अन्विताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शील (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + औदार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (गुणैः अन्विता = endowed with virtues; पूर्वपदानि शील-रूप-औदार्य-गुण)

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that men such as Kṛtavarmā had sought the hand of Satyabhāmā.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Bhagavān)
• Satyabhāmā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna marrying Satyabhama?

This verse states that Śrī Kṛṣṇa married Satyabhāmā according to proper Vedic procedure, highlighting both dharma (right conduct) and her exceptional virtues.

Why is Satyabhama described as 'sought by many' in Bhagavatam 10.56?

The verse emphasizes her desirability and excellence—many wanted her hand, yet she became Kṛṣṇa’s wife, underscoring the Lord’s divine arrangement and her distinguished qualities.

Practical application: what can we learn from 'yathā-vidhi' (according to proper rites)?

It teaches respect for sacred principles and disciplined conduct—aligning important life decisions with dharma rather than impulse.