FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.8.10

तथा चिकीर्षमाणं तं सपत्‍न्यास्तनयं ध्रुवम् । सुरुचि: श‍ृण्वतो राज्ञ: सेर्ष्यमाहातिगर्विता ॥ १० ॥
tathā cikīrṣamāṇaṁ taṁ
[tathaa chikeershamaanam tam]
sapatnyās tanayaṁ dhruvam
[sapatnyaas tanayam dhruvam]
suruciḥ śṛṇvato rājñaḥ
[suruchih shrinvato raajnah]
serṣyam āhātigarvitā
[sershyam aahaatigarvitaa]
tathā — thus cikīrṣamāṇam — the child Dhruva, who was trying to get up tam — unto him sa-patnyāḥ — of her co-wife (Sunīti) tanayam — son dhruvam — Dhruva suruciḥ — Queen Suruci śṛṇvataḥ — while hearing rājñaḥ — of the King sa-īrṣyam — with envy āha — said atigarvitā — being too proud.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tathā cikīrṣamāṇaṁ taṁ
tathā
thus
cikīrṣamāṇam
the child Dhruva, who was trying to get up
tam
unto him
sapatnyās tanayaṁ dhruvam
sa-patnyāḥ
of her co-wife (Sunīti)
tanayam
son
dhruvam
Dhruva
suruciḥ śṛṇvato rājñaḥ
suruciḥ
Queen Suruci
śṛṇvataḥ
while hearing
rājñaḥ
of the King
sa-īrṣyam
with envy
serṣyam āhātigarvitā
āha
said
atigarvitā
being too proud.
While the child, Dhruva Mahārāja, was trying to get on the lap of his father, Suruci, his stepmother, became very envious of the child, and with great pride she began to speak so as to be heard by the King himself.

The King, of course, was equally affectionate toward both his sons, Uttama and Dhruva, so he had a natural inclination to take Dhruva, as well as Uttama, on his lap. But because of his favoritism towards his queen Suruci, he could not welcome Dhruva Mahārāja, despite his feelings. King Uttānapāda’s feeling was understood by Suruci, and therefore with great pride she began to speak about the King’s affection for her. This is the nature of woman. If a woman understands that her husband regards her as a favorite and is especially affectionate to her, she takes undue advantage. These symptoms are visible even in such an elevated society as the family of Svāyambhuva Manu. Therefore it is concluded that the feminine nature of woman is present everywhere.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Sunīti, who was very proud, spoke with spite to the child trying to climb on his father’s lap, while the King was able to hear.
Seeing Dhruva approach the king, Suruci grew envious and spoke loudly enough for the king to hear. The cruelty that's performed for an audience is often worse than the cruelty done in private.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have I weaponized a public moment to wound someone, knowing the audience would protect me?
  • Whose 'Suruci voice' am I tolerating in my home because I don't want the conflict of calling it out?
📝 My note

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