The Downfall of Saubhari Muni

Verse 55 (SB 9.6.55)

SB 9.6.54

SB 9.6.56

SB 9.6.55 • मूल श्लोक

ता: स्वपत्युर्महाराज निरीक्ष्याध्यात्मिकीं गतिम् । अन्वीयुस्तत्प्रभावेण अग्निं शान्तमिवार्चिष: ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

tāḥ sva-patyur mahārāja nirīkṣyādhyātmikīṁ gatim anvīyus tat-prabhāveṇa agniṁ śāntam ivārciṣaḥ

Synonyms (Word-for-Word)

tāḥ — all the wives of Saubhari; sva-patyuḥ — with their own husband; mahārāja — O King Parīkṣit; nirīkṣya — observing; adhyātmikīm — spiritual; gatim — progress; anvīyuḥ — followed; tat-prabhāveṇa — 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; śāntam — completely merged; iva — like; arciṣaḥ — the flames.

Translation

“O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, 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.”

Bhaktivedanta Purport

By Śrīla Prabhupāda

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.32), striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās te ’pi yānti parāṁ 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 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Downfall of Saubhari Muni.”