Shloka 34
The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed (Brāhmaṇa-patnī-prasāda) — Ritualism Humbled by Bhakti
श्रीशुक उवाच इत्युक्ता द्विजपत्न्यस्ता यज्ञवाटं पुनर्गता: । ते चानसूयवस्ताभि: स्त्रीभि: सत्रमपारयन् ॥ ३४ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca ity uktā dvija-patnyas tā yajña-vāṭaṁ punar gatāḥ te cānasūyavas tābhiḥ strībhiḥ satram apārayan
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus instructed, the wives of the brāhmaṇas returned to the sacrificial arena. The brāhmaṇas found no fault in their wives, and together with them they completed the yajña.
The wives of the brāhmaṇas obeyed Lord Kṛṣṇa’s order and returned to the sacrificial arena of their husbands, whereas the gopīs, although ordered by Kṛṣṇa to go home, remained in the forest to dance with Him through the full-moon night. Both the gopīs and the brāhmaṇas’ wives achieved pure love of Godhead.
FAQs
This verse highlights that the brāhmaṇas became anāsūyavaḥ—free from envy—and only then could they properly complete their religious duty, implying envy blocks spiritual progress and harmony in dharma and bhakti.
After being instructed (by the narrative’s unfolding events centered on Kṛṣṇa’s līlā), they returned to the yajña-vāṭa, and their return coincided with the brāhmaṇas’ transformation—becoming non-envious and able to conclude the sacrifice.
Practice goodwill toward others’ devotion and success, avoid fault-finding, and align duties with humility—this removes inner resistance and allows one’s work, worship, and relationships to be completed peacefully and spiritually.