FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.9.50

पय: स्तनाभ्यां सुस्राव नेत्रजै: सलिलै: शिवै: तदाभिषिच्यमानाभ्यां वीर वीरसुवो मुहु: ॥ ५० ॥
payaḥ stanābhyāṁ susrāva
[payah stanaabhyaam susraava]
netra-jaiḥ salilaiḥ śivaiḥ
[netra-jaih salilaih shivaih]
tadābhiṣicyamānābhyāṁ
[tadaabhishichyamaanaabhyaam]
vīra vīra-suvo muhuḥ
[veera veera-suvo muhuh]
payaḥ — milk stanābhyām — from both breasts susrāva — began to flow down netra-jaiḥ — from the eyes salilaiḥ — by tears śivaiḥ — auspicious tadā — at that time abhiṣicyamānābhyām — being wetted vīra — my dear Vidura vīra-suvaḥ — of the mother who gave birth to a hero muhuḥ — constantly.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
payaḥ stanābhyāṁ susrāva
payaḥ
milk
stanābhyām
from both breasts
susrāva
began to flow down
netra-jaiḥ salilaiḥ śivaiḥ
netra-jaiḥ
from the eyes
salilaiḥ
by tears
śivaiḥ
auspicious
tadābhiṣicyamānābhyāṁ
tadā
at that time
abhiṣicyamānābhyām
being wetted
vīra vīra-suvo muhuḥ
vīra
my dear Vidura
vīra-suvaḥ
of the mother who gave birth to a hero
muhuḥ
constantly.
My dear Vidura, Sunīti was the mother of a great hero. Her tears, together with the milk flowing from her breasts, wet the whole body of Dhruva Mahārāja. This was a great, auspicious sign.

When Deities are installed, They are washed with milk, yogurt and water, and this ceremony is called abhiṣeka. In this verse it has been especially mentioned that the tears which flowed down from the eyes of Sunīti were all-auspicious. This auspiciousness of the abhiṣeka ceremony performed by his beloved mother was an indication that in the very near future Dhruva Mahārāja would be installed on the throne of his father. The history of Dhruva Mahārāja’s leaving home was that his father refused to give him a place on his lap, and Dhruva Mahārāja determined that unless he got the throne of his father he would not come back. Now this abhiṣeka ceremony performed by his beloved mother was an indication that he would occupy the throne of Mahārāja Uttānapāda.

It is also significant in this verse that Sunīti, mother of Dhruva Mahārāja, is described as vīra-sū, a mother who produced a great hero. There are many heroes in the world, but there is no comparison to Dhruva Mahārāja, who was not only a heroic emperor of this planet, but also a great devotee. A devotee is also a great hero because he conquers the influence of māyā. When Lord Caitanya inquired from Rāmānanda Rāya about the most famous man in this world, the latter replied that anyone who is known as a great devotee of the Lord is to be accepted as the most famous.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O Vidura! Milk constantly flowed from her breasts, which were sprinkled with her tears. She was the mother of a hero. O Vidura, hero! Sunīti had given birth to a hero like you.
Sunīti's tears mixed with breast milk wash Dhruva — like the abhiṣeka of a deity. A mother's love performs sacred ceremonies the temple priests would recognize.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose loving care has functioned as a quiet abhiṣeka in my life?
  • Where could I see my own ordinary care as a sacred bathing of another?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 9