Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 15

Draupadī Meets Kṛṣṇa’s Queens — Narratives of the Lord’s Marriages and the Queens’ Bhakti

Devanagari script

श्रीभद्रोवाच पिता मे मातुलेयाय स्वयमाहूय दत्तवान् । कृष्णे कृष्णाय तच्चित्तामक्षौहिण्या सखीजनै: ॥ १५ ॥ अस्य मे पादसंस्पर्शो भवेज्जन्मनि जन्मनि । कर्मभिर्भ्राम्यमाणाया येन तच्छ्रेय आत्मन: ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bhadrovāca pitā me mātuleyāya svayam āhūya dattavān kṛṣṇe kṛṣṇāya tac-cittām akṣauhiṇyā sakhī-janaiḥ

Translation

室利·跋陀罗说：亲爱的德劳帕蒂，我父亲出于自愿召来他的外甥室利·奎师那——我的心早已奉献于他——并将我作为新娘献给他。父亲又以一支阿克绍希尼军队与女伴随从，将我交付于主。我的究竟圆满在此：纵使因业力而生生世世漂泊，愿我在每一世都得以触及室利·奎师那的莲足。

Synonyms

• श्री-भद्रा-उवाच: Śrī Bhadrā said
• श्री-भद्रा-उवाच: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + भद्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘उवाच’ = said; वक्तृ-निर्देश

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (enclitic)

• मातुलेयाय: to (my) cousin/uncle’s son
• मातुलेयाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातुलेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• स्वयम्: personally
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनैव/स्वकृत्ये (adverb: personally)

• आहूय: having called
• आहूय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + हु (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having summoned/called’

• दत्तवान्: gave
• दत्तवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्तवत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (perfective participle, active); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; finite-sense with ‘पिता’ (he gave)

• कृष्णे: in/for Kṛṣṇa (as husband)
• कृष्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• कृष्णाय: to Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• तत्-चित्ताम्: with her mind fixed on him
• तत्-चित्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्मिन् चित्तं यस्याः = whose mind is fixed on him); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of the bride, implied ‘माम्/कन्याम्’)

• अक्षौहिण्या: with an akṣauhiṇī (full army division)
• अक्षौहिण्या: Saha (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षौहिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण/सह (with an army)

• सखी-जनैः: with (her) companions
• सखी-जनैः: Saha (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सखीनां जनाः = group of friends/companions); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Purport

With the word ātmanaḥ, Queen Bhadrā speaks not only for herself but for all living entities as well. The soul’s perfection ( śreya ātmanaḥ ) is devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, both in this world and beyond, in liberation.

Characters & Entities

• Bhadrā
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

Who is speaking in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.83.15 and what is she describing?

Bhadrā is speaking, describing how her father arranged her marriage by personally giving her to Kṛṣṇa, along with an akṣauhiṇī of soldiers and her companions, while her mind was already devoted to Kṛṣṇa.

What does ‘akṣauhiṇī’ mean in the Bhagavata Purana?

An akṣauhiṇī is a complete military division (a large, standard formation of chariots, elephants, cavalry, and infantry) mentioned in epic and Purāṇic contexts as a measure of army strength.

What is the practical lesson of Bhadrā’s statement for devotees today?

It highlights single-pointed devotion—keeping one’s mind fixed on Kṛṣṇa—while accepting life’s arrangements in a dharmic way, seeing relationships and duties as supportive to bhakti.