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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 23: Devahūti’s Lamentation
3.22.393.23.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.23.1

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.23.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

पितृभ्यां प्रस्थिते साध्वी पतिमिङ्गितकोविदा ।

नित्यं पर्यचरत्प्रीत्या भवानीव भवं प्रभुम् ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca

pitṛbhyāṁ prasthite sādhvī

patim iṅgita-kovidā

nityaṁ paryacarat prītyā

bhavānīva bhavaṁ prabhum

Translation

Maitreya continued: After the departure of her parents, the chaste woman Devahūti, who could understand the desires of her husband, served him constantly with great love, as Bhavānī, the wife of Lord Śiva, serves her husband.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Love and Service in Devotional Marriage

  1. 1

    Devahūti served Kardama Muni constantly with great love and affection. Although she was an emperor’s daughter, she gave importance to faithful service rather than royal comfort.

  2. 2

    Lord Śiva is presented as an ideal husband because he is the greatest of devotees, not because of riches or sense gratification. He constantly meditates upon Lord Rāma.

  3. 3

    By serving her Vaiṣṇava husband, the wife shares in his devotional service. This exchange of service and love is described as the ideal of a householder’s life.

Key points from the purport
  • Bhavānī means the wife of Bhava, or Lord Śiva.
  • Bhavānī, or Pārvatī, the daughter of the King of the Himālayas, selected Lord Śiva, who appears to be just like a beggar, as her husband.
  • Unmarried girls worship Lord Śiva so that they can expect a husband who is as good a Vaiṣṇava as he.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Longing and service → Preparedness. Family devotion turns toward higher spiritual fulfillment.

Chapters 20–24 of Canto 3: Kardama, Devahūti, family and renunciation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 23: Devahūti’s Lamentation

Devahūti serves Kardama, shares his extraordinary household life, and asks who will comfort her after his departure.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācaMaitreya said
  2. pitṛbhyāmby the parents
  3. prasthiteat the departure
  4. sādhvīthe chaste woman
  5. patimher husband
  6. iṅgita-kovidāunderstanding the desires
  7. nityamconstantly
  8. paryacaratshe served
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “householder’s”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “love”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I value devotional qualities more than wealth and comfort in family life?

Practice

Offer one thoughtful act of service to a family member today, with affection rather than a desire for praise.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.23's connections

Live this todayLove and Service in Devotional MarriageThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.23.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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