Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 52
Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī
Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude
तां देवमायामिव धीरमोहिनीं सुमध्यमां कुण्डलमण्डिताननाम् । श्यामां नितम्बार्पितरत्नमेखलां व्यञ्जत्स्तनीं कुन्तलशङ्कितेक्षणाम् । शुचिस्मितां बिम्बफलाधरद्युति- शोणायमानद्विजकुन्दकुड्मलाम् ॥ ५१ ॥ पदा चलन्तीं कलहंसगामिनीं सिञ्जत्कलानूपुरधामशोभिना । विलोक्य वीरा मुमुहु: समागता यशस्विनस्तत्कृतहृच्छयार्दिता: ॥ ५२ ॥ यां वीक्ष्य ते नृपतयस्तदुदारहास- व्रीदावलोकहृतचेतस उज्झितास्त्रा: । पेतु: क्षितौ गजरथाश्वगता विमूढा यात्राच्छलेन हरयेऽर्पयतीं स्वशोभाम् ॥ ५३ ॥ सैवं शनैश्चलयती चलपद्मकोशौ प्राप्तिं तदा भगवत: प्रसमीक्षमाणा । उत्सार्य वामकरजैरलकानपाङ्गै: प्राप्तान् ह्रियैक्षत नृपान् ददृशेऽच्युतं च ॥ ५४ ॥ तां राजकन्यां रथमारुरुक्षतीं जहार कृष्णो द्विषतां समीक्षताम् ॥ ५५ ॥
tāṁ deva-māyām iva dhīra-mohinīṁ su-madhyamāṁ kuṇḍala-maṇḍitānanām śyāmāṁ nitambārpita-ratna-mekhalāṁ vyañjat-stanīṁ kuntala-śaṅkitekṣaṇām
Rukmiṇī appeared as enchanting as the Lord’s illusory potency, who enchants even the sober and grave. Thus the kings gazed upon her virgin beauty, her shapely waist, and her lovely face adorned with earrings. Her hips were graced with a jewel-studded belt, her breasts were just budding, and her eyes seemed apprehensive of her encroaching locks of hair. She smiled sweetly, her jasmine-bud teeth reflecting the glow of her bimba-red lips. As she walked with the motions of a royal swan, the effulgence of her tinkling ankle bells beautified her feet. Seeing her, the assembled heroes were totally bewildered. Lust tore at their hearts. Indeed, when the kings saw her broad smile and shy glance, they became stupefied, dropped their weapons and fell unconscious to the ground from their elephants, chariots and horses. On the pretext of the procession, Rukmiṇī displayed her beauty for Kṛṣṇa alone. Slowly she advanced the two moving lotus-whorls of her feet, awaiting the arrival of the Supreme Lord. With the fingernails of her left hand she pushed some strands of hair away from her face and shyly looked from the corners of her eyes at the kings standing before her. At that moment she saw Kṛṣṇa. Then, while His enemies looked on, the Lord seized the princess, who was eager to mount His chariot.
According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, Rukmiṇī was anxious that her locks of hair might impede her vision, since she was most eager to see her beloved Kṛṣṇa. The nondevotees, or demons, are bewildered at seeing the opulences of the Lord and think that His potency is meant for their gross sense gratification. But Rukmiṇī, an expansion of Kṛṣṇa’s internal pleasure potency, was meant for the Lord alone.
FAQs
This verse describes Rukmini’s swan-like gait and the melodious sound of her anklets, so enchanting that the assembled kings became bewildered and overwhelmed by desire.
They had come as suitors, and Rukmini’s extraordinary grace and charm stirred powerful longing in their hearts, making them lose composure.
It highlights how sense-attraction can overpower even the strong; a seeker should cultivate self-control and direct the heart’s longing toward devotion rather than mere infatuation.