Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 36

Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī

Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

कृष्णमागतमाकर्ण्य विदर्भपुरवासिन: । आगत्य नेत्राञ्जलिभि: पपुस्तन्मुखपङ्कजम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣṇam āgatam ākarṇya vidarbha-pura-vāsinaḥ āgatya netrāñjalibhiḥ papus tan-mukha-paṅkajam

Translation

When the residents of Vidarbha-pura heard that Lord Kṛṣṇa had come, they all went to see Him. With the cupped palms of their eyes they drank the honey of His lotus face.

Synonyms

• कृष्णम्: Krishna
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• आगतम्: arrived
• आगतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to कृष्णम् (‘arrived’)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having heard’

• विदर्भ-पुर-वासिनः: the residents of the city of Vidarbha
• विदर्भ-पुर-वासिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदर्भ + पुर + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समास: विदर्भस्य पुरे वासिनः (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having come’

• नेत्र-अञ्जलिभिः: with handfuls/cups of (their) eyes (i.e., with their eyes as offerings)
• नेत्र-अञ्जलिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; समास: नेत्रयोः अञ्जलिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• पपुः: they drank
• पपुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्-मुख-पङ्कजम्: his lotus-like face
• तत्-मुख-पङ्कजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + मुख + पङ्कज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समास: तस्य मुखं पङ्कजम् इव (तत्पुरुष; ‘his lotus-face’)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of Kṛṣṇa’s darśana?

This verse shows that simply seeing Kṛṣṇa overwhelms the heart—His lotus face is so captivating that the people “drink” it with their eyes, indicating devotional absorption and spiritual satisfaction.

Why did the people of Vidarbha gather when they heard Kṛṣṇa had come?

Kṛṣṇa’s arrival signaled a rare opportunity for direct darśana of the Supreme Lord; the citizens rushed out to behold Him, drawn by devotion and wonder during the events surrounding Rukmiṇī.

How can I apply the teaching of this verse in modern life?

Cultivate intentional darśana—seek Kṛṣṇa through deity worship, sacred images, and attentive hearing/chanting—so the mind learns to “drink” the Lord’s beauty rather than chase fleeting distractions.