Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

तां रूपिणीं श्रियमनन्यगतिं निरीक्ष्य या लीलया धृततनोरनुरूपरूपा । प्रीत: स्मयन्नलककुण्डलनिष्ककण्ठ- वक्त्रोल्ल‍सत्स्मितसुधां हरिराबभाषे ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

tāṁ rūpiṇīṁ śrīyam ananya-gatiṁ nirīkṣya yā līlayā dhṛta-tanor anurūpa-rūpā prītaḥ smayann alaka-kuṇḍala-niṣka-kaṇṭha- vaktrollasat-smita-sudhāṁ harir ābabhāṣe

Translation

As He contemplated her, the goddess of fortune herself, who desires only Him, Lord Kṛṣṇa smiled. The Lord assumes various forms to enact His pastimes, and He was pleased that the form the goddess of fortune had assumed was just suitable for her to serve as His consort. Her charming face was adorned with curling hair, earrings, a locket on her neck, and the nectar of her bright, happy smile. The Lord then spoke to her as follows.

Synonyms

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• रूपिणीम्: beautiful, possessing form
• रूपिणीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूपिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रियम्: splendor, fortune
• श्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अनन्य-गतिम्: having no other refuge
• अनन्य-गतिम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अनन्या गतिः)

• निरीक्ष्य: having observed
• निरीक्ष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having looked at/observed’

• या: who
• या: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध/अन्वय-प्रदर्शक सर्वनाम

• लीलया: playfully
• लीलया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• धृत-तनोर्: of her whose body was held/assumed
• धृत-तनोर्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धृता तनुः यस्याः)

• अनुरूप-रूपा: having a fitting form
• अनुरूप-रूपा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अनुरूपं रूपं यस्याः)

• प्रीतः: pleased
• प्रीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• स्मयन्: smiling
• स्मयन्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मि (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘smiling’

• अलक-कुण्डल-निष्क-कण्ठ-वक्त्र-उल्लसत्-स्मित-सुधाम्: nectar-like smile shining on his face (adorned with locks, earrings, neck-ornament, etc.)
• अलक-कुण्डल-निष्क-कण्ठ-वक्त्र-उल्लसत्-स्मित-सुधाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलक (प्रातिपदिक) + कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्क (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उल्लसत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + स्मित (प्रातिपदिक) + सुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समास-समूहः (वक्त्रे उल्लसत् स्मितं तदेव सुधा इव) अलक-कुण्डल-निष्क-कण्ठ-सम्बन्धि

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• आबभाषे: spoke
• आबभाषे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī has quoted an interesting verse, spoken by Śrī Parāśara in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa:

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Hari)
• Rukmiṇī
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about ananya-gati (exclusive shelter) in devotion?

This verse describes Rukmiṇī as ananya-gati—one who has no refuge other than Kṛṣṇa—highlighting exclusive dependence on the Lord as a hallmark of pure bhakti.

Why does Śukadeva describe Rukmiṇī as Śrī (Lakṣmī) in human form?

Because Rukmiṇī is presented as the divine goddess of fortune appearing as Kṛṣṇa’s queen, emphasizing her spiritual identity and her perfect suitability as His consort.

Practical application: how can devotees cultivate ananya-gati in modern life?

By making Kṛṣṇa the primary shelter through daily śravaṇa-kīrtana, prayerful dependence in decisions, and offering one’s results to Him rather than seeking ultimate security in temporary supports.