Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.18.20-21
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevayānī Asks for a Lasting Commitment
“With words saturated with love and affection, Devayānī said to King Yayāti: O great hero, O King, conqueror of the cities of your enemies, by accepting my hand you have accepted me as your married wife. Let me not be touched by others, for our relationship as husband and wife has been made possible by providence, not by any human being.”
What the purport teaches
- Devayānī addressed King Yayāti with love and affection. She said that by accepting her hand, he had accepted her as his wife.
- The purport describes joining the bride's and bridegroom's hands as a long-standing marriage custom. On this basis, they could be regarded as married.
- Devayānī was enamored with Yayāti and asked him not to change his mind or let another marry her. She understood their relationship as arranged by providence.
Try this today
Honor one existing commitment today through a small, concrete action.
Ask yourself
Do I treat commitments in close relationships with seriousness and care?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.