Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

श्रीभगवानुवाच पतयो नाभ्यसूयेरन् पितृभ्रातृसुतादय: । लोकाश्च वो मयोपेता देवा अप्यनुमन्वते ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bhagavān uvāca patayo nābhyasūyeran pitṛ-bhrātṛ-sutādayaḥ lokāś ca vo mayopetā devā apy anumanvate

Translation

Le Seigneur Suprême répondit : Vos maris ne vous en voudront pas; ni vos pères, frères, fils, ni le peuple. Je leur expliquerai moi-même la situation; même les devas l’approuveront.

Synonyms

• śrī-bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• śrī-bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) = 'the glorious Lord'; Puṁliṅga (masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन)

• patayaḥ: husbands
• patayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (negation/निषेध)

• abhyasūyeran: should envy/resent
• abhyasūyeran: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: asūy (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; upasarga: abhi-

• pitṛ-bhrātṛ-suta-ādayaḥ: fathers, brothers, sons, and others
• pitṛ-bhrātṛ-suta-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) with ādi = 'fathers, brothers, sons, etc.'; Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• lokāḥ: people/worlds
• lokāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• vaḥ: your
• vaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana

• mayā-upetāḥ: endowed with Me
• mayā-upetāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (प्रातिपदिक) + upeta (कृदन्त, √i with upa-)
• Form: Kṛdanta: past passive participle 'upeta' (attended/possessed); Instrumental: mayā (Tṛtīyā/तृतीया, Ekavacana) qualifying; upetāḥ: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya/Avadhāraṇa-avyaya (also/even/अपि)

• anumanvate: approve/consent
• anumanvate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; upasarga: anu-

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• wives of the brahmanas
• demigods (Devas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about fear of family opposition to bhakti?

In this verse, Krishna reassures the devoted women that their husbands and relatives will not resent them, because He protects His devotees and even higher authorities (the devas) approve.

Why did Krishna say this to the wives of the brahmanas?

They had come to Krishna with devotion, crossing social and familial expectations; Krishna calms their anxiety by affirming His protection and the ultimate divine sanction behind their devotion.

Practical application of Krishna’s assurance in modern life?

When sincere spiritual practice creates social pressure, this verse teaches steadiness: act with devotion and integrity, trusting that what is aligned with the Divine will ultimately be supported and harmonized.