Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 26

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy

The Gift of Flat Rice

Devanagari script

पतिव्रता पतिं द‍ृष्ट्वा प्रेमोत्कण्ठाश्रुलोचना । मीलिताक्ष्यनमद्बुद्ध्या मनसा परिषस्वजे ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

pati-vratā patiṁ dṛṣṭvā premotkaṇṭhāśru-locanā mīlitākṣy anamad buddhyā manasā pariṣasvaje

Translation

When the chaste lady saw her husband, her eyes filled with tears of love and eagerness. As she held her eyes closed, she solemnly bowed down to him, and in her heart she embraced him.

Synonyms

• पति-व्रता: the devoted wife
• पति-व्रता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: पतेः व्रतम् यस्याः/पतिव्रता; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); "दर्शयित्वा/दर्शनं कृत्वा" अर्थे

• प्रेम-उत्कण्ठा-अश्रु-लोचना: whose eyes were tearful from loving longing
• प्रेम-उत्कण्ठा-अश्रु-लोचना: Karta (कर्ता; adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेम (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्कण्ठा (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास: प्रेमोत्कण्ठया अश्रूणि लोचने यस्याः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (qualifying pati-vratā)

• मीलित-अक्षि: with eyes closed
• मीलित-अक्षि: Karta (कर्ता; adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मील् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास: मीलिते अक्षिणी यस्याः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (पाठे 'मीलिताक्ष्य्' = मीलिताक्षि + (स्त्री)

• अनमत्: bowed
• अनमत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• बुद्ध्या: with (her) understanding/mind
• बुद्ध्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• मनसा: with (her) heart/mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• परिषस्वजे: embraced
• परिषस्वजे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + स्वज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: परि

Characters & Entities

• Sudāmā
• Sudāmā’s wife

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the qualities of a pativratā wife?

This verse portrays a pativratā as deeply faithful and humble—her love expresses itself through longing, tears, inner reverence, and heartfelt embrace of her husband.

Why did Sudāmā’s wife react with tears and humility on seeing her husband?

Sudāmā had returned after hardship and poverty; her loving anxiety (utkaṇṭhā) overflowed as tears, and her bowed mind shows modesty and devotion within household dharma.

How can the teaching of this verse be applied in modern life?

It highlights affectionate loyalty and respect in relationships—expressing love with humility, emotional sincerity, and inner support rather than pride or harshness.