Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 47

Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire

Devanagari script

देवयान्यप्यनुदिनं मनोवाग्देहवस्तुभि: । प्रेयस: परमां प्रीतिमुवाह प्रेयसी रह: ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

devayāny apy anudinaṁ mano-vāg-deha-vastubhiḥ preyasaḥ paramāṁ prītim uvāha preyasī rahaḥ

Translation

Devayānī mỗi ngày nơi kín đáo, dùng tâm, lời, thân và các lễ vật, đem đến cho phu quân yêu dấu niềm hỷ lạc thiêng liêng tối thượng.

Synonyms

• devayānī: Devayānī
• devayānī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devayānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), अर्थः ‘also/even’

• anudinam: daily
• anudinam: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu-dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘every day’

• manasā: by mind
• manasā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• vācā: by speech
• vācā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• dehena: by body
• dehena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• vastubhiḥ: with/through things (objects)
• vastubhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• preyasaḥ: of (her) beloved
• preyasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• paramām: supreme, highest
• paramām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) of ‘prītim’

• prītim: love, affection
• prītim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• uvāha: she bore/held; she had (love)
• uvāha: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• preyasī: the beloved (woman)
• preyasī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preyasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to ‘devayānī’

• rahaḥ: secretly, in private
• rahaḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Mode)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: rahas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘in secret/privately’

Characters & Entities

• Devayānī
• Yayāti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about a wife's devotion to her husband?

This verse portrays Devayānī serving her husband consistently with mind, speech, body, and provisions—showing attentive, wholehearted service within household dharma.

Why is Devayānī described as pleasing Yayāti in private (rahaḥ)?

In the Yayāti narrative, conjugal intimacy and affectionate service are presented as private marital conduct, emphasizing discretion and the confidential nature of husband–wife relations.

What is the practical application of serving with mind, words, body, and resources?

It suggests integrated care—think well, speak kindly, act helpfully, and provide tangible support—so relationships are nurtured through complete, consistent commitment.