Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

हित्वान्यान् भजते यं श्री: पादस्पर्शाशयासकृत् । स्वात्मदोषापवर्गेण तद्याच्ञा जनमोहिनी ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

hitvānyān bhajate yaṁ śrīḥ pāda-sparśāśayāsakṛt svātma-doṣāpavargeṇa tad-yācñā jana-mohinī

Translation

Hoping to touch His lotus feet, even Śrī, the goddess of fortune, forever worships Him alone, abandoning all others and casting off her pride and fickleness. That He should beg is indeed astonishing and bewildering to all.

Synonyms

• hitvā: having abandoned
• hitvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-धातु; ‘having abandoned’

• anyān: others
• anyān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन

• bhajate: serves, resorts to
• bhajate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), मध्यम/प्रथम?—प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• yam: whom
• yam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• śrīḥ: Fortune (Śrī/Lakṣmī)
• śrīḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• pāda-sparśa-āśayā: with the desire to touch (his) feet
• pāda-sparśa-āśayā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda + sparśa + āśayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—पाद-स्पर्श (feet-touch) + आशया (with the intention/hope)

• asakṛt: repeatedly
• asakṛt: Sambandha (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: asakṛt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘again and again’

• svātma-doṣa-apavargeṇa: by the removal of one’s own faults
• svātma-doṣa-apavargeṇa: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + ātman + doṣa + apavarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—स्वात्म-दोष (one’s own faults) + अपवर्ग (removal/liberation)

• tat-yācñā: his request/entreaty
• tat-yācñā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + yācñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/nominative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः—तस्य याच्ञा (his request/entreaty)

• jana-mohinī: deluding people
• jana-mohinī: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jana + mohinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/nominative), एकवचन; समासः—जनं मोहयति इति (one that deludes people)

Purport

The supreme master of the goddess of fortune herself obviously does not have to beg for food, as pointed out here by the brāhmaṇas, who are finally manifesting real spiritual intelligence.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī (Lakṣmī)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lakshmi and Krishna’s lotus feet?

This verse says that Lakṣmī repeatedly longs to touch and serve the Lord’s lotus feet, giving up all others—showing the unique supremacy of His feet as the ultimate shelter.

Why does the verse say Lakshmi’s request bewilders ordinary people?

Because people commonly equate Lakṣmī with worldly fortune and status; her intense longing for the Lord’s feet reveals a devotion beyond material gain, which confuses those who see spirituality through material lenses.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Treat success and comfort as secondary, and make steady devotion—service, humility, and seeking the Lord’s shelter—your primary goal, even when others misunderstand your priorities.