Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 37

Genealogies from Yayāti’s Sons to the Yadu Dynasty; Romapāda–Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; Kārtavīryārjuna; and the Rise of Yādava Branches

Devanagari script

अहं बन्ध्यासपत्नी च स्‍नुषा मे युज्यते कथम् । जनयिष्यसि यं राज्ञि तस्येयमुपयुज्यते ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

ahaṁ bandhyāsapatnī ca snuṣā me yujyate katham janayiṣyasi yaṁ rājñi tasyeyam upayujyate

Translation

ஷைப்யா கூறினாள்—“நான் பிள்ளையில்லாதவள்; எனக்கு இணைமனைவியும் இல்லை; அப்படியிருக்க இவள் என் மருமகள் எப்படி?” ஜ்யாமகன் சொன்னான்—“ராணியே, நீ ஒரு மகனைப் பெறும்படி நான் ஏற்பாடு செய்வேன்; இவள் அவனுக்கே உரியவள் ஆகும்.”

Synonyms

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• bandhyā-sapatnī: an infertile co-wife
• bandhyā-sapatnī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandhyā+sapatnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: बन्ध्या (infertile) इति विशेषणं + सपत्नी (co-wife); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• snuṣā: daughter-in-law
• snuṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snuṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• me: my/to me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive)/चतुर्थी (Dative) एकवचन; अत्र षष्ठी—‘मे’ = ‘my’

• yujyate: is fitting/appropriate
• yujyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• katham: how?
• katham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• janayiṣyasi: you will beget/give birth to
• janayiṣyasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘cause to be born’ (janay-)

• yam: whom/which
• yam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• rājñi: O queen!
• rājñi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (addressing queen)

• tasya: of him/of that (son)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• iyam: this (woman)
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• upayujyate: will be useful/appropriate
• upayujyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa+√yuj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (passive/impersonal): ‘is to be used/serves’

Characters & Entities

• rājñī (queen)
• snuṣā (daughter-in-law)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about dharma in marriage alliances?

This verse stresses propriety (dharma) in relationships: a daughter-in-law should be united with the rightful husband, and social-ethical boundaries should be respected even amid dynastic concerns.

Why does the speaker say, “I am barren and your co-wife—how can my daughter-in-law be joined with me”?

She argues from dharma and family roles: since she cannot produce an heir and is a co-wife, it would be improper for her to take the same bride; the bride is intended for the son the queen will bear.

How can this Bhagavatam verse be applied in modern life?

It highlights acting with integrity in family decisions—honoring rightful relationships, avoiding role-confusion, and placing dharma above personal rivalry or social pressure.