Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 6
Kṛṣṇa’s Queens, Their Sons, and Balarāma’s Victory over Rukmī at Dice
Aniruddha–Rocanā Marriage Context
प्रत्युद्गमासनवरार्हणपादशौच- ताम्बूलविश्रमणवीजनगन्धमाल्यै: । केशप्रसारशयनस्नपनोपहार्यै- र्दासीशता अपि विभोर्विदधु: स्म दास्यम् ॥ ६ ॥
pratyudgamāsana-varārhaṇa-pāda-śauca- tāmbūla-viśramaṇa-vījana-gandha-mālyaiḥ keśa-prasāra-śayana-snapanopahāryaiḥ dāsī-śatā api vibhor vidadhuḥ sma dāsyam
尽管至上主的王后们各自拥有数百侍女，她们仍亲自以谦恭之心事奉主：迎接祂、奉上座位、以殊胜供具礼拜、洗濯并按摩祂的莲足、奉上槟榔、为祂扇风、涂抹芬芳檀香、佩戴花鬘、梳理发髻、铺设卧榻、为祂沐浴，并献上种种礼物；她们虽为王后，却以侍奉之心行大主的仆役之事。
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that Śukadeva Gosvāmī is so eager to describe these glorious pastimes of the Lord with His queens that he has repeated these verses. That is, text 5 of this chapter is almost identical with text 44 of the Fifty-ninth Chapter in this canto, and text 6 is identical with text 45 of that chapter. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that the term varārhaṇa (“excellent offerings”) indicates that the queens offered the Lord palmfuls of flowers ( puṣpāñjali ) and palmfuls of jewels ( ratnāñjali ).
FAQs
This verse describes dāsya-bhakti as intimate, practical service to Kṛṣṇa—welcoming Him, honoring Him, washing His feet, and caring for His comfort with offerings like garlands, fragrance, fanning, bathing, and preparing His resting place.
Śukadeva highlights that even those in seemingly ordinary roles in Dvārakā were engaged in exalted devotion, because their daily duties became direct loving service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Offer practical, consistent service with devotion—care for sacred practices (pujā, cleanliness, offerings), serve devotees, and do everyday work in a spirit of honoring and pleasing the Lord.