Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

तास्तथा त्यक्तसर्वाशा: प्राप्ता आत्मदिद‍ृक्षया । विज्ञायाखिलद‍ृग्द्रष्टा प्राह प्रहसितानन: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

tās tathā tyakta-sarvāśāḥ prāptā ātma-didṛkṣayā vijñāyākhila-dṛg-draṣṭā prāha prahasitānanaḥ

Translation

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who witnesses the thoughts of all beings, understood that the women had abandoned every worldly hope and come solely to see Him. Smiling, He then spoke to them.

Synonyms

• ताः: they (those women)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनम् (Feminine, Nom./Acc., Plural) — अत्र प्रथमा

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• त्यक्त-सर्व-आशाः: having abandoned all hopes (elsewhere)
• त्यक्त-सर्व-आशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्त (त्यज् धातु + क्त) + सर्व + आशा (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (सर्वाः आशाः त्यक्ताः येषाम्); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् (Feminine, Nominative, Plural)

• प्राप्ताः: having come / having reached
• प्राप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् (Feminine, Nominative, Plural)

• आत्म-दिदृक्षया: out of desire to see Him (the Self/Lord)
• आत्म-दिदृक्षया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + दिदृक्षा (दृश् धातोः सन्-इच्छार्थक नाम); समासः
• Form: तत्पुरुष (आत्मनः दिदृक्षा = self/His vision-desire); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Feminine, Instrumental, Singular)

• विज्ञाय: having understood
• विज्ञाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• अखिल-दृक्-द्रष्टा: the seer of all (the all-seeing Lord)
• अखिल-दृक्-द्रष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल + दृक् + द्रष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: तत्पुरुष (अखिलस्य दृक्/दर्शनं द्रष्टा); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह् (धातु: अह्/ब्रू-अर्थ)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनम् (3rd person singular)

• प्रहसित-आननः: with a smiling face
• प्रहसित-आननः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-हस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (प्रहसितम् आननं यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular) — अखिलदृग्द्रष्टा इति विशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• brāhmaṇa-patnīḥ (wives of the brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about giving up all other hopes to attain Krishna?

This verse shows that when the brāhmaṇa wives abandoned worldly expectations and sought only Kṛṣṇa’s darśana, the all-seeing Lord recognized their devotion and graciously responded.

Why did Krishna smile and speak to the wives of the brahmanas?

Because Kṛṣṇa, the knower of everyone’s heart, understood their pure motive—coming solely to see Him—and welcomed them with affectionate, smiling speech.

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

Prioritize sincere devotion over bargaining expectations—approach spiritual practice to know and serve God, trusting that the Lord understands the heart and guides accordingly.