Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 17

Puṁsavana / Viṣṇu-vrata: Worship of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa for Auspicious Progeny and Fortune

Devanagari script

पतिं च परया भक्त्या महापुरुषचेतसा । प्रियैस्तैस्तैरुपनमेत् प्रेमशील: स्वयं पति: । बिभृयात् सर्वकर्माणि पत्‍न्या उच्चावचानि च ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

patiṁ ca parayā bhaktyā mahāpuruṣa-cetasā priyais tais tair upanamet prema-śīlaḥ svayaṁ patiḥ bibhṛyāt sarva-karmāṇi patnyā uccāvacāni ca

Translation

妻子应将丈夫视为至上人格神的代表，以纯净无杂的奉爱之心供奉他，并献上圣食（prasāda）。丈夫因妻子的爱而欢喜，应亲自承担家庭中大小诸事。

Synonyms

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• परया: supreme, intense
• परया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘भक्त्या’

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• महापुरुषचेतसा: with a mind fixed on the Supreme Person
• महापुरुषचेतसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महापुरुष-चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (चेतस्), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—महापुरुषस्य चेतसा; विशेषणम् (भक्त्या/उपनमेत्-कर्तुः भावः)

• प्रियैः: with pleasing (things)
• प्रियैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् ‘तैः’ (उपाय-भूतैः)

• तैः: with those
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तैः: with those (various)
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; पुनरुक्तिः (emphatic repetition)

• उपनमेत्: should bow/offer obeisance
• उपनमेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• प्रेमशीलः: affectionate by nature
• प्रेमशीलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेम-शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—प्रेम एव शीलं यस्य; विशेषणम् ‘पतिḥ’

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः/स्वतः (emphatic adverb)

• पतिः: the husband
• पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• बिभृयात्: should perform/undertake
• बिभृयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सर्वकर्माणि: all duties/acts
• सर्वकर्माणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—सर्वाणि कर्माणि

• पत्‍न्या: with the wife
• पत्‍न्या: Saha (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (सह/करण), एकवचन; सहार्थे (with the wife)

• उच्चावचानि: high and low (varied)
• उच्चावचानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्च-अवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (इतरेतर)—उच्चानि च अवचानि च; विशेषणम् ‘कर्माणि’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Purport

The family relationship of husband and wife should be established spiritually according to the process mentioned above.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about husband and wife duties in devotional life?

This verse teaches mutual devotion-centered respect: the wife honors her husband with loving offerings while keeping her mind on the Supreme Lord, and the husband affectionately supports her in all responsibilities, big and small.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe household duties while speaking the Bhagavatam?

In Canto 6, Śukadeva explains dharma and vows like the Pumsavana observance, showing that bhakti is practiced not only in renunciation but also through purified conduct and mutual care within family life.

How can this teaching be applied in modern married life?

Keep spiritual focus (remembrance of the Lord) while practicing practical kindness: express respect and appreciation, and actively support each other’s daily responsibilities so the home becomes favorable for devotion.