Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.18.29
Ūti· What drives us to actKṛṣṇa’s Household Life Is Beyond Ordinary Men
“Vṛṣaparvā wisely thought that Śukrācārya’s displeasure would bring danger and that his pleasure would bring material gain. Therefore he carried out Śukrācārya’s order and served him like a slave. He gave his daughter Śarmiṣṭhā to Devayānī, and Śarmiṣṭhā served Devayānī like a slave, along with thousands of other women.”
What the purport teaches
- Vṛṣaparvā saw danger in Śukrācārya’s displeasure and material benefit in his pleasure. He therefore obeyed, and Śarmiṣṭhā and thousands of women became Devayānī’s servants.
- The purport explains that a king maintained his wife’s companions and maidservants. Children born to maidservants were accepted as dāsī-putra and were also maintained.
- Kṛṣṇa’s 16,108 wives were direct queens, not maidservants. He expanded Himself into 16,108 forms to maintain a separate household for each, something impossible for ordinary men.
Try this today
Spend a minute reflecting on Kṛṣṇa’s extraordinary ability to be personally present in every one of these households.
Ask yourself
How does Kṛṣṇa’s ability to maintain each queen personally distinguish Him from ordinary kings?
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.