Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 34
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath, the Assault on Vedic Culture, and the Boy-Yamarāja’s Teaching on the Soul
त्वया कृतज्ञेन वयं महीपते कथं विना स्याम सुहृत्तमेन ते । तत्रानुयानं तव वीर पादयो: शुश्रूषतीनां दिश यत्र यास्यसि ॥ ३४ ॥
tvayā kṛtajñena vayaṁ mahī-pate kathaṁ vinā syāma suhṛttamena te tatrānuyānaṁ tava vīra pādayoḥ śuśrūṣatīnāṁ diśa yatra yāsyasi
大王啊，勇士啊！你是知恩的夫君，也是我们众人最真挚的友伴；离了你，我们如何存活？勇士啊，你将往何处去，请指示我们同往，使我们追随你的足迹，再次侍奉于你。请带我们同行！
Formerly, a kṣatriya king was generally the husband of many wives, and after the death of the king, especially in the battlefield, all the queens would agree to accept saha-māraṇa, dying with the husband who was their life. When Pāṇḍu Mahārāja, the father of the Pāṇḍavas, died, his two wives — namely, the mother of Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma and Arjuna and the mother of Nakula and Sahadeva — were both ready to die in the fire with their husband. Later, after a compromise was arranged, Kuntī stayed alive to care for the little children, and the other wife, Mādrī, was allowed to die with her husband. This system of saha-māraṇa continued in India even until the time of British rule, but later it was discouraged, since the attitude of wives gradually changed with the advancement of Kali-yuga. Thus the system of saha-māraṇa has practically been abolished. Nevertheless, within the past fifty years I have seen the wife of a medical practitioner voluntarily accept death immediately when her husband died. Both the husband and wife were taken in procession in the mourning cart. Such intense love of a chaste wife for her husband is a special case.
FAQs
This verse praises a ruler as kṛtajña (grateful), implying that true leadership includes recognizing service and reciprocating goodwill, which inspires followers to remain devoted and supportive.
After Hiraṇyakaśipu’s return (following severe tapasya), his followers welcomed him and expressed dependence on him as their chief well-wisher, asking permission and guidance to accompany him and serve him wherever he goes.
It can mean choosing worthy guidance, serving with humility, and aligning one’s actions with a higher purpose—supporting mentors, elders, or spiritual teachers through sincere assistance rather than ego-driven independence.