Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्विधं बहुगुणमन्नमादाय भाजनै: । अभिसस्रु: प्रियं सर्वा: समुद्रमिव निम्नगा: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

catur-vidhaṁ bahu-guṇam annam ādāya bhājanaiḥ abhisasruḥ priyaṁ sarvāḥ samudram iva nimnagāḥ

Translation

นางทั้งหลายยกอาหารสี่ประเภทอันเปี่ยมด้วยรสและคุณลักษณะมากมายใส่ภาชนะใหญ่ แล้วพากันรีบไปหาพระผู้เป็นที่รัก ดุจสายน้ำไหลสู่มหาสมุทร

Synonyms

• catur-vidham: fourfold
• catur-vidham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular agreeing with ‘annam’; द्विगु: ‘catur’ (four) + ‘vidha’ (kind) = fourfold

• bahu-guṇam: rich in many qualities
• bahu-guṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular agreeing with ‘annam’; तत्पुरुष: ‘many qualities’

• annam: food
• annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), from √दा with prefix आ-; ‘having taken’

• bhājanaiḥ: with vessels
• bhājanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhājana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• abhisasruḥ: they ran toward
• abhisasruḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-sṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural; with prefix अभि-

• priyam: to the beloved (Kṛṣṇa)
• priyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of motion = ‘to the beloved’ (Kṛṣṇa)

• sarvāḥ: all (of them)
• sarvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• samudram: the ocean
• samudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; upamāna (object of comparison)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (उपमा-वाचक अव्यय)

• nimnagāḥ: rivers
• nimnagāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nimnagā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural; ‘river’

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that the wives of the brāhmaṇas experienced conjugal feelings toward Kṛṣṇa, as if He were their paramour; thus they could not be checked as they rushed to see Him.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa wives
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the brāhmaṇa wives running to Krishna?

This verse depicts their irresistible devotional attraction: carrying various fine foods, they rush to their beloved Krishna like rivers flowing to the ocean, showing that pure bhakti naturally seeks the Lord.

Why did the brāhmaṇa wives go to Krishna with food in Canto 10 Chapter 23?

In the narrative, Krishna’s cowherd friends sought food from brāhmaṇas performing sacrifice; the brāhmaṇas refused, but their wives, moved by devotion, brought abundant preparations directly to Krishna.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Cultivate promptness in devotion—when an opportunity for service arises, act without delay, offering your best (time, attention, resources) to God with heartfelt love rather than mere formality.