Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.23.35-36
Ūti· What drives us to actJyāmagha’s Unexpected Reply to Śaibyā
“Jyāmagha had no sons, but because he was fearful of his wife, Śaibyā, he could not accept another wife. Jyāmagha once took from the house of some royal enemy a girl who was a prostitute, but upon seeing her Śaibyā was very angry and said to her husband, “My husband, you cheater, who is this girl sitting upon my seat on the chariot?” Jyāmagha then replied, “This girl will be your daughter-in-law.” Upon hearing these joking words, Śaibyā smilingly replied.”
What the purport teaches
- Jyāmagha had no sons. Because he feared his wife, Śaibyā, he did not accept another wife.
- He brought a girl who was a prostitute from a royal enemy’s house. Śaibyā became very angry on seeing the girl sitting in her seat on the chariot.
- Jyāmagha said that the girl would be Śaibyā’s daughter-in-law. On hearing these joking words, Śaibyā replied with a smile.
Try this today
Reread the exchange and identify what prompted Śaibyā’s anger and what preceded her smile.
Ask yourself
What do you notice about Śaibyā’s changing response during this exchange?
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.