Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 43

Ikṣvāku Dynasty: Vikukṣi’s Offense, Purañjaya’s Victory, Māndhātā’s Birth, and Saubhari’s Fall and Renunciation

Devanagari script

मुनि: प्रवेशित: क्षत्रा कन्यान्त:पुरमृद्धिमत् । वृत: स राजकन्याभिरेकं पञ्चाशता वर: ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

muniḥ praveśitaḥ kṣatrā kanyāntaḥpuram ṛddhimat vṛtaḥ sa rāja-kanyābhir ekaṁ pañcāśatā varaḥ

Translation

Daraufhin, als Saubhari Muni jung und von großer Schönheit geworden war, führte ihn der Bote des Palastes in die überaus prunkvollen Gemächer der Prinzessinnen. Dort nahmen ihn alle fünfzig Prinzessinnen zum Gemahl, obwohl er nur ein einziger Mann war.

Synonyms

• muniḥ: the sage
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject

• praveśitaḥ: was led in
• praveśitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-veśita (कृदन्त; √viś विश्, causative PPP/णिच्+क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; causative passive participle: 'was caused to enter/was led in'

• kṣatrā: by the kṣatriya (king)
• kṣatrā: Karaṇa (करण) / Kartṛ in passive (कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agent/instrument in passive construction

• kanyā-antaḥpuram: the maidens' inner palace
• kanyā-antaḥpuram: Karma (कर्म) / Gati-karman
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक) + antaḥpura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: कन्यानाम् अन्तःपुरम्; goal of motion (into)

• ṛddhimat: splendid, prosperous
• ṛddhimat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṛddhimant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying kanyā-antaḥpuram

• vṛtaḥ: was chosen
• vṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛta (कृदन्त; √vṛ वृ, PPP/क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; PPP 'chosen'

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; pronoun referring to muniḥ

• rāja-kanyābhiḥ: by the king's daughters
• rāja-kanyābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) / Kartṛ in passive (कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; तत्पुरुषः: राज्ञः कन्याः; agent in passive 'chosen by'

• ekam: one
• ekam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; numeral with pañcāśatā (one among fifty)

• pañcāśatā: among fifty
• pañcāśatā: Karaṇa (करण) (measure/संख्या-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcāśat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; numeral 'by/among fifty' used distributively with ekam

• varaḥ: (as) the bridegroom
• varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate noun: 'as bridegroom'

Characters & Entities

• Muni (the sage)
• Kṣatrā (the king)
• Rāja-kanyāḥ (fifty princesses)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam (Canto 9) say about royal marriage and dharma?

This verse depicts a king arranging a dharmic marriage setting—bringing a qualified sage into the princesses’ quarters—after which the princesses choose him, showing marriage as a social and dharmic institution guided by propriety.

Why was the sage brought into the inner palace of the princesses?

In the narrative, the king formally introduces the sage to the princesses in an appropriate royal setting so that the marriage choice can occur according to custom, with the princesses accepting one bridegroom.

What practical lesson can modern readers take from this Bhagavatam verse?

It highlights the value of dignity, consent, and dharmic procedure in major life decisions—choosing a partner with respect for character and proper guidance rather than impulse.