Śaryāti, Sukanyā, Cyavana Muni, the Aśvinī-kumāras, and Kakudmī-Revatī
Baladeva Marriage
सुतां दत्त्वानवद्याङ्गीं बलाय बलशालिने । बदर्याख्यं गतो राजा तप्तुं नारायणाश्रमम् ॥ ३६ ॥
sutāṁ dattvānavadyāṅgīṁ balāya bala-śāline badary-ākhyaṁ gato rājā taptuṁ nārāyaṇāśramam
Thereafter the King bestowed his flawless, beautiful daughter in sacred charity upon the supremely powerful Baladeva. Then, renouncing worldly life, he went to Badarikāśrama and performed austerities to please Nara-Nārāyaṇa.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Marriage of Sukanyā and Cyavana Muni.”
This verse presents Badarī (Badrikāśrama) as the sacred āśrama of Lord Nārāyaṇa, a place where a king goes specifically to perform tapasya, indicating pilgrimage aimed at spiritual discipline and God-centered austerity.
The verse shows a dharmic sequence: after completing worldly responsibility (marrying off his daughter to the powerful Bala), the king turns toward higher spiritual duty by going to Nārāyaṇa’s hermitage for austerities.
Fulfill responsibilities conscientiously, then deliberately create time for disciplined spiritual practice—such as daily sādhana, periodic retreats, or pilgrimages—centered on devotion to Nārāyaṇa.