FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.23.25

अङ्गं च मलपङ्केन संछन्नं शबलस्तनम् । आविवेश सरस्वत्या: सर: शिवजलाशयम् ॥ २५ ॥
aṅgaṁ ca mala-paṅkena
[angam cha mala-pankena]
sañchannaṁ śabala-stanam
[sanchannam shabala-stanam]
āviveśa sarasvatyāḥ
[aavivesha sarasvatyaah]
saraḥ śiva-jalāśayam
[sarah shiva-jalaashayam]
Word-for-word
aṅgam — body ca — and mala-paṅkena — with dirt sañchannam — covered śabala — discolored stanam — breasts āviveśa — she entered sarasvatyāḥ — of the river Sarasvatī saraḥ — the lake śiva — sacred jala — waters āśayam — containing.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
aṅgaṁ ca mala-paṅkena
aṅgam
body
ca
and
mala-paṅkena
with dirt
sañchannaṁ śabala-stanam
sañchannam
covered
śabala
discolored
stanam
breasts
āviveśa sarasvatyāḥ
āviveśa
she entered
sarasvatyāḥ
of the river Sarasvatī
saraḥ śiva-jalāśayam
saraḥ
the lake
śiva
sacred
jala
waters
āśayam
containing.
Her body was coated with a thick layer of dirt, and her breasts were discolored. She dove, however, into the lake, which contained the sacred waters of the Sarasvatī.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Following the words of her husband, the lotus eyed Devahūti, with matted locks of hair and wearing dirty clothing, whose breasts were discolored, being covered with dirt, entered the lake of auspicious water filled by the Sarasvatī River. Samādāya means “respecting.”
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Devahūti's body is coated in dirt from austere life; she dives into the lake's sacred waters. Long renunciation produces ugliness on the surface — and the way back is sacred bathing, not shame. The Lord's grace cleanses what discipline has accumulated.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'dirt' from long discipline am I carrying that needs a sacred bath, not denial?
  • Where do I confuse the residue of practice with the goal of practice?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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