Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 9.6.55

tah sva-patyur maharaja

nirikshyadhyatmikim gatim

anviyus tat-prabhavena

agnim santam ivarcishah

SYNONYMS

tah -- all the wives of Saubhari; sva-patyuh -- with their own husband; maharaja -- O King Parikshit; nirikshya -- observing; adhyatmikim -- spiritual; gatim -- progress; anviyuh -- followed; tat-prabhavena -- by the influence of their husband (although they were unfit, by the influence of their husband they also could go to the spiritual world); agnim -- the fire; santam -- completely merged; iva -- like; arcishah -- the flames.

TRANSLATION

O Maharaja Parikshit, by observing their husband progressing in spiritual existence, Saubhari Muni's wives were also able to enter the spiritual world by his spiritual power, just as the flames of a fire cease when the fire is extinguished.

PURPORT

As stated in Bhagavad-gita (9.32), striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te 'pi yanti param gatim. Women are not considered very powerful in following spiritual principles, but if a woman is fortunate enough to get a suitable husband who is spiritually advanced and if she always engages in his service, she also gets the same benefit as her husband. Here it is clearly said that the wives of Saubhari Muni also entered the spiritual world by the influence of their husband. They were unfit, but because they were faithful followers of their husband, they also entered the spiritual world with him. Thus a woman should be a faithful servant of her husband, and if the husband is spiritually advanced, the woman will automatically get the opportunity to enter the spiritual world.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Sixth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "The Downfall of Saubhari Muni."

<<< >>>

Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness