FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.23.48

अत: सा सुषुवे सद्यो देवहूति: स्त्रिय: प्रजा: । सर्वास्ताश्चारुसर्वाङ्‍ग्यो लोहितोत्पलगन्धय: ॥ ४८ ॥
ataḥ sā suṣuve sadyo
[atah saa sushuve sadyo]
devahūtiḥ striyaḥ prajāḥ
[devahootih striyah prajaah]
sarvās tāś cāru-sarvāṅgyo
[sarvaas taash chaaru-sarvaangyo]
lohitotpala-gandhayaḥ
[lohitotpala-gandhayah]
ataḥ — then sā — she suṣuve — gave birth sadyaḥ — on the same day devahūtiḥ — Devahūti striyaḥ — females prajāḥ — progeny sarvāḥ — all tāḥ — they cāru-sarva-aṅgyaḥ — charming in every limb lohita — red utpala — like the lotus gandhayaḥ — fragrant.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ataḥ sā suṣuve sadyo
ataḥ
then
sā
she
suṣuve
gave birth
sadyaḥ
on the same day
devahūtiḥ striyaḥ prajāḥ
devahūtiḥ
Devahūti
striyaḥ
females
prajāḥ
progeny
sarvās tāś cāru-sarvāṅgyo
sarvāḥ
all
tāḥ
they
cāru-sarva-aṅgyaḥ
charming in every limb
lohitotpala-gandhayaḥ
lohita
red
utpala
like the lotus
gandhayaḥ
fragrant.
Immediately afterward, on the same day, Devahūti gave birth to nine female children, all charming in every limb and fragrant with the scent of the red lotus flower.

Devahūti was too sexually excited, and therefore she discharged more ova, and nine daughters were born. It is said in the smṛti-śāstra as well as in the Āyur-veda that when the discharge of the male is greater, male children are begotten, but when the discharge of the female is greater, female children are begotten. It appears from the circumstances that Devahūti was more sexually excited, and therefore she had nine daughters at once. All the daughters, however, were very beautiful, and their bodies were nicely formed; each resembled a lotus flower and was fragrant like a lotus.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
At one time, she gave birth to female children, all with beautiful limbs and with the fragrance of red lotuses. Sadyaḥ means “all in one day.”
The verse points beyond impersonal abstraction to a Lord who hears, acts, and relates. Spiritual life gets real once we stop talking about Him and start talking to Him.
Reflection Questions
  • Whom do you actually address when you pray — a concept, or a person?
  • What single attribute of the Lord, taken seriously today, would reorganize a corner of your life?
📝 My note

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