Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 21

Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच एतावदुक्त्वा भगवानात्मानं वल्ल‍भामिव । मन्यमानामविश्लेषात् तद्दर्पघ्न उपारमत् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca etāvad uktvā bhagavān ātmānaṁ vallabhām iva manyamānām aviśleṣāt tad-darpa-ghna upāramat

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Rukmiṇī had thought herself especially beloved by the Lord because He never left her company. By saying these things to her He vanquished her pride, and then He stopped speaking.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता; speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/nominative); एकवचन; कर्मधारय (श्रीमान् शुकः = revered Śuka)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एतावत्: this much
• एतावत्: Karma (कर्म; object of uktvā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative); एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (to this extent)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); from √वच्; ‘having said’

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/nominative); एकवचन

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative); एकवचन

• वल्लभाम्: (as) a beloved (woman)
• वल्लभाम्: Karma (कर्म; object of implied comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल्लभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative); एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमार्थक (particle of comparison: like/as)

• मन्यमानाम्: (her) who was thinking/considering
• मन्यमानाम्: Karma (कर्म; object of upāramat—‘he ceased (from) [her] thinking…’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative); एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्) आत्मनेपद from √मन् ‘to think’; object referring to her (Rukmiṇī)

• अविश्लेषात्: because of non-separation (i.e., not wishing to part)
• अविश्लेषात्: Hetu (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविश्लेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/ablative); एकवचन; हेतु/कारण (from non-separation)

• तत्-दर्प-घ्नः: the destroyer of her pride
• तत्-दर्प-घ्नः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to भगवान्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + दर्प + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/nominative); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य दर्पं हन्ति = destroyer of her pride)

• उपारमत्: desisted, stopped
• उपारमत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + रम् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (aorist); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Rukmiṇī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna removing a devotee’s pride?

In this verse, Śukadeva explains that Kṛṣṇa paused after speaking in a way meant to crush (darpa-ghna) the subtle pride that can arise even in intimate, loving devotion.

Why did Krishna speak in a way that disturbed Rukmini in Canto 10 Chapter 60?

Because Rukmiṇī’s love was so inseparable that she thought of Him as her exclusive beloved; Kṛṣṇa’s leela here is to purify that intimacy by removing any trace of possessiveness or pride.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

When devotion becomes mixed with ego or possessiveness, setbacks can act as purification—inviting humility, deeper surrender, and love centered on serving Kṛṣṇa rather than claiming Him.